On Saturday, a YouTube creator referred to as ChromaLock printed a video detailing how he modified a Texas Devices TI-84 graphing calculator to hook up with the web and entry OpenAI’s ChatGPT, doubtlessly enabling college students to cheat on assessments. The video, titled “I Made the Final Dishonest Machine,” demonstrates a customized {hardware} modification that permits customers of the graphing calculator to kind in issues despatched to ChatGPT utilizing the keypad and obtain reside responses on the display screen.
ChromaLock started by exploring the calculator’s hyperlink port, sometimes used for transferring instructional applications between units. He then designed a customized circuit board he calls “TI-32” that includes 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 methods.
It is value 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 parts, 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 growth, 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 skin.
To accompany the {hardware}, ChromaLock developed customized software program for the microcontroller and the calculator, which is obtainable open supply on GitHub. The system simulates one other TI-84, permitting folks 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 is likely to be most helpful for answering brief questions, but it surely has a disadvantage in that it is sluggish and cumbersome to kind in lengthy alphanumeric questions on the restricted keypad.
Past the ChatGPT interface, the gadget gives 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 digital camera function, although particulars had been sparse within the present demo.
ChromaLock claims his new gadget can bypass widespread anti-cheating measures. The launcher program will 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 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 take a look at in your calculator virtually actually represents an moral breach and/or a type of educational dishonesty that might get you in deep trouble at most faculties. So tread fastidiously, research exhausting, and keep in mind to eat your Wheaties.
This story initially appeared on Ars Technica.