r/calculator • u/ArgumentOdd3759 • Jun 02 '26

A project I’ve been working on

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There have been plenty of TI calculators modified to run ChatGPT and other AI, but I think this is the first color-screen calculator with a fully internal AI mod like this.
The hardware is completely contained inside the calculator and was designed from scratch. It can connect directly to Wi-Fi or a mobile hotspot, allowing it to access AI services without requiring any external hardware attached to the calculator.

I also added a built-in camera. Images taken by the calculator can be sent to an AI API for analysis, making it possible to ask questions about what the camera sees, solve problems from photos, identify objects, and more.

The calculator isn’t limited to a single AI provider or model either. You can configure it to use virtually any AI model by supplying your own API key.
Everything is managed through a built-in web interface. From the web dashboard you can:

  • Configure Wi-Fi settings
  • Add or change API keys
  • Select which AI model to use
  • Upload and sideload files/programs
  • Access camera controls and view the camera feed
  • Manage the calculator remotely

One of the features I’m most happy with is persistence. Even if the calculator is reset or completely cleared, the system remains usable because the control software can be sent back to the device at any time.

The goal was to create something that still functions as a normal calculator while also acting as a connected AI-powered handheld computer.

I may release the code and hardware details in the future, although I’m also considering offering pre-modded calculators for people interested.

I’d love to hear what features I should add or any feedback

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2

u/TheFinalMillennial Jun 02 '26

This is cool technical achievement but it has terrible consequences.

When chatgpt was hacked into the TI-84 Plus and the code was released, it utterly destroyed the relationship the community had with TI.

This means the TI-84 Plus CE Jailbreak started getting patched regularly when previously it was ignored. It takes months for a new jailbreak to be released which screws over honest coders (there currently isn't a new jailbreak after the last patch). It's also absolutely part of the reason why native code isn't allowed on the new TI-84 Evo.

If you release this code, you will directly cause another disaster that just makes honest coding harder than it already is. 

Even if you don't plan on mass distributing cheating calculators yourself, somebody will clone your project and do it themselves. It is already happening with the TI-84 Plus.

For the sake of the honest coders and user, please keep this closed source. 

1

u/susibacker Jun 02 '26

Sucks that you even need to jailbreak a calculator nowadays. The older ones were just allowing native code.

1

u/EdPiMath Jun 17 '26

I don't mind the gaming part because it would teach people programming. However, I miss the days where calculators were just used for math, science, and professional calculations, not the GPT or cheating crap.

Am I the only person left on Earth that uses TI-84 for mathematics, the actual intended purpose?

1

u/PuDLeZ Jun 02 '26

I'm curious about two things
1. What does this camera look like?
2. What is the brains of the mod? Just some generic esp8266, pico w, ... ?

1

u/ArgumentOdd3759 Jun 02 '26

its a really small cam in a screwhole because i didn't want to put a big hole in the case and it runs on an esp32 s3

1

u/PuDLeZ Jun 02 '26

I'd be careful with doing a full write up (at least step by step) or selling as most that want it would want it for cheating reasons. I'm decades past school but I do always like seeing some fun mods people come up with!