On Saturday, a YouTube creator known as ChromaLock published 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 assessments. The video, titled “I Made the Final Dishonest Gadget,” demonstrates a customized {hardware} modification that enables customers of the graphing calculator to kind in issues despatched to ChatGPT utilizing the keypad and obtain stay responses on the display.
ChromaLock started by exploring the calculator’s hyperlink port, usually used for transferring academic applications 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 parts to interface with the calculator’s techniques.
It is value noting that the TI-32 hack is not a industrial undertaking. Replicating ChromaLock’s work would contain buying a TI-84 calculator, a Seed Studio ESP32-C3 microcontroller, and varied digital parts, and fabricating a customized PCB based mostly on ChromaLock’s design, which is available online.
The creator says he encountered a number of engineering challenges throughout growth, together with voltage incompatibilities and sign integrity points. After growing 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 on the market open source 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 permits a consumer to simply obtain a launcher program that gives entry to varied “applets” designed for dishonest.
One of many applets is a ChatGPT interface that may be most helpful for answering brief questions, nevertheless it has a downside in that it is sluggish and cumbersome to kind in lengthy alphanumeric questions on the restricted keypad.
Past the ChatGPT interface, the machine affords 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 permits 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 digital camera function, although particulars had been sparse within the present demo.
ChromaLock claims his new machine can bypass frequent anti-cheating measures. The launcher program could be downloaded on-demand, avoiding detection if a trainer inspects or clears the calculator’s reminiscence earlier than a take a look at. The modification also can supposedly break calculators out of Test Mode, a locked-down state used to forestall dishonest.
Whereas the video presents the undertaking as a technical achievement, consulting ChatGPT throughout a take a look at in your calculator nearly actually represents an moral breach and/or a type of educational dishonesty that might get you in deep trouble at most colleges. So tread fastidiously, research arduous, and keep in mind to eat your Wheaties.
This story initially appeared on Ars Technica.
