A YouTube creator known as “ChromaLock” has successfully modified a Texas Instruments TI-84 graphing calculator to connect to the internet and access OpenAI’s ChatGPT.
The modification, detailed in a video titled “I Made The Ultimate Cheating Device,” has sparked both admiration and concern over its potential use for academic dishonesty.
ChromaLock’s hack involves installing a custom hardware modification that includes a Seed Studio ESP32-C3 microcontroller and various electronic components, along with a custom PCB designed to fit inside the TI-84 calculator.
The creator encountered several engineering challenges during development, including voltage incompatibilities and signal integrity issues, but ultimately managed to install the custom board without any visible signs of modifications from the outside.
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The custom software developed by ChromaLock simulates another TI-84, allowing users to use the calculator’s built-in “send” and “get” commands to transfer files.
“This enables the download of a launcher program that provides access to various “applets” designed for cheating, including a ChatGPT interface, an image browser, and an app browser feature that allows users to download games and text-based cheat sheets disguised as program source code,” ChromaLock said.
The ChatGPT interface, while impressive, has limitations due to the slow and difficult nature of typing in long alphanumeric questions on the limited keypad.
However, it could be particularly useful for answering short questions. The device also offers a camera feature, though details were sparse in the current demo.
ChromaLock claims that his device can bypass common anti-cheating measures, such as inspecting or clearing the calculator’s memory before a test, and can even break calculators out of “Test Mode,” a locked-down state used to prevent cheating.
While the project is a technical achievement, it raises serious ethical concerns. Consulting ChatGPT during a test on your calculator almost certainly represents an ethical breach and/or a form of academic dishonesty that could lead to serious repercussions in educational institutions.
The TI-32 hack is not a commercial project, and replicating ChromaLock’s work would require purchasing specific components and fabricating a custom PCB based on his design, which is available online. The software is also open source and available on GitHub.
While ChromaLock’s hack is a remarkable display of technical skill, it underscores the need for vigilance in preventing academic dishonesty.
Students and educators alike must be aware of the potential for such modifications and take appropriate measures to ensure the integrity of educational assessments.
Disclaimer: This article does not endorse or promote academic dishonesty. It aims to inform readers about the potential risks and ethical considerations associated with such modifications.
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