On Saturday, a YouTube creator referred to as ChromaLock revealed a video detailing how he modified a Texas Devices TI-84 graphing calculator to connect with the web and entry OpenAI’s ChatGPT, probably enabling college students to cheat on checks. The video, titled “I Made the Final Dishonest Gadget,” demonstrates a customized {hardware} modification that enables customers of the graphing calculator to sort in issues despatched to ChatGPT utilizing the keypad and obtain stay responses on the display.
ChromaLock started by exploring the calculator’s hyperlink port, sometimes used for transferring academic packages between gadgets. He then designed a customized circuit board he calls “TI-32” that comes with a tiny Wi-Fi-enabled microcontroller, the Seed Studio ESP32-C3 (which prices about $5), together with different elements to interface with the calculator’s methods.
It is price noting that the TI-32 hack is not a business mission. Replicating ChromaLock’s work would contain buying a TI-84 calculator, a Seed Studio ESP32-C3 microcontroller, and numerous digital elements, and fabricating a customized PCB based mostly on ChromaLock’s design, which is obtainable on-line.
The creator says he encountered a number of engineering challenges throughout improvement, together with voltage incompatibilities and sign integrity points. After creating a number of variations, ChromaLock efficiently put in the customized board into the calculator’s housing with none seen indicators of modifications from the surface.
To accompany the {hardware}, ChromaLock developed customized software program for the microcontroller and the calculator, which is out there open supply on GitHub. The system simulates one other TI-84, permitting individuals to make use of the calculator’s built-in “ship” and “get” instructions to switch information. This enables a consumer to simply obtain a launcher program that gives entry to numerous “applets” designed for dishonest.
One of many applets is a ChatGPT interface that is perhaps most helpful for answering brief questions, however it has a downside in that it is gradual and cumbersome to sort in lengthy alphanumeric questions on the restricted keypad.
Past the ChatGPT interface, the gadget presents a number of different dishonest instruments. A picture browser permits customers to entry pre-prepared visible aids saved on the central server. The app browser function allows college students to obtain not solely video games for post-exam leisure but additionally text-based cheat sheets disguised as program supply code. ChromaLock even hinted at a future video discussing a digicam function, although particulars have been sparse within the present demo.
ChromaLock claims his new gadget can bypass widespread anti-cheating measures. The launcher program may be downloaded on-demand, avoiding detection if a instructor inspects or clears the calculator’s reminiscence earlier than a check. The modification may supposedly break calculators out of Check Mode, a locked-down state used to stop dishonest.
Whereas the video presents the mission as a technical achievement, consulting ChatGPT throughout a check in your calculator nearly definitely represents an moral breach and/or a type of tutorial dishonesty that might get you in deep trouble at most colleges. So tread rigorously, examine onerous, and bear in mind to eat your Wheaties.
This story initially appeared on Ars Technica.
