Enthusiast Adapts TI-84 Graphing Calculator For Working With ChatGPT
Recently, a hacker named ChromaLock posted a video on YouTube showing how he modified a Texas Instruments TI-84 graphing calculator to connect to the internet and use ChatGPT. The video, titled “I built the perfect cheating device,” demonstrates how, using a special board and an ESP32-C3 microcontroller, the calculator gains access to Wi-Fi and can send requests to ChatGPT.
First, the enthusiast studied the calculator’s communication port, which is usually used to transfer educational programs between devices. Then he designed his own printed circuit board, called the TI-32. The key component of the board was a miniature Seed Studio ESP32-C3 Wi-Fi controller, which costs about $5. He also installed additional electronic components to interact with the calculator’s systems.
To replicate ChromaLock, you will need to purchase a TI-84 calculator, a Seed Studio ESP32-C3 microcontroller, and a number of electronic components. You will also need to make a printed circuit board using the ChromaLock schematic, which is available online. The complexity of the process makes it difficult for regular users, but opens up opportunities for enthusiasts. During the development of ChromaLock, he encountered a number of engineering challenges, including voltage incompatibility and signal integrity issues. After creating several prototypes, he was able to successfully integrate the modified board into the calculator case without any visible external changes, making the modification invisible upon visual inspection.
The hacker claims that his device can bypass anti-cheat measures, such as checking or clearing the calculator’s memory before the test. However, using ChatGPT during the test may be considered an ethical violation and/or a form of academic dishonesty.
