On a seemingly ordinary Saturday, a YouTube creator known as ChromaLock turned the tech world upside down with a video that could easily be described as both brilliant and reckless. In his latest project, he revealed how he modified a classic Texas Instruments TI-84 graphing calculator to connect to the internet and access OpenAI‘s ChatGPT. This feat, as he dubbed it, is potentially the ultimate cheating device for students.

In the video titled “I Made the Ultimate Cheating Device,” ChromaLock takes us through the fascinating process of transforming the TI-84—a staple of math classes everywhere—into a high-tech tool that could let students sneak answers during exams. Using the calculator’s link port, typically reserved for sharing educational programs, he designed a custom circuit board named the “TI-32.” This board features a tiny, Wi-Fi-enabled microcontroller, the Seed Studio ESP32-C3, which is impressively affordable at about $4.99, alongside other necessary components to interface seamlessly with the calculator’s systems.

Now, let’s get one thing clear: this isn’t a commercial venture. If you were to replicate ChromaLock’s ingenious work, you’d need to track down a TI-84, grab a Seed Studio ESP32-C3, and gather a handful of electronic bits and pieces. Not to mention, you’d have to fabricate a custom PCB based on ChromaLock’s open-source design available online.

Throughout his journey, ChromaLock faced various engineering hurdles, from voltage mismatches to signal integrity challenges. After several iterations, he successfully integrated his custom board into the calculator without a trace of external modification, giving it a sleek, unassuming look.

But it’s not just hardware that makes this hack special; ChromaLock also developed bespoke software for both the microcontroller and the calculator, which he has generously shared on GitHub. The software mimics another TI-84, allowing users to utilize the calculator’s built-in “send” and “get” commands to transfer files. This feature means that students can download a launcher program that provides access to a variety of “applets” designed specifically for cheating.

Among these applets is the ChatGPT interface, which could help answer short questions quickly. However, there’s a catch: typing out lengthy alphanumeric queries on the calculator’s limited keypad can be a frustratingly slow process.

But the ChatGPT feature is just the tip of the iceberg. The device also boasts a handy image browser, enabling users to access pre-prepared visual aids stored on a central server. Plus, there’s an app browser that allows students to download games for a little post-exam relaxation, alongside text-based cheat sheets cleverly disguised as source code. ChromaLock teased viewers with hints of a future video that might explore a camera feature, though he kept the details tantalizingly vague.

In his video, ChromaLock boldly claims that his creation can bypass typical anti-cheating measures. The launcher program can be downloaded on-the-fly, making it difficult for teachers to detect any foul play if they happen to inspect or clear the calculator’s memory before a test. He also suggests that this modification can break the calculator out of Test Mode—a locked state designed specifically to thwart cheating.

While it’s hard not to admire the technical prowess displayed in ChromaLock’s project, let’s be real: consulting ChatGPT during a test via your calculator is likely a serious breach of ethics and could land you in hot water at most schools. So, while some might see this as a clever hack, others might view it as a gateway to academic dishonesty, raising questions about the fine line between innovation and integrity in education.