1994 Jeep Cherokee owner hacks 32-year-old car with Claude AI to pass California smog tests
An AI enthusiast managed to get his old 1994 Jeep Cherokee to pass the California smog tests thanks to the help of AI, a little electronics wiring skill, and $15 of components.
A tech-savvy individual named Muhammad Zulali successfully made his 1994 Jeep Cherokee pass California smog tests by leveraging the power of AI and rudimentary electronics. Although the old car had a basic engine computer, Zulali connected it to a laptop using an Arduino Nano board, which allowed him to read and even control some of the settings.
Initially, the Jeep failed the smog tests multiple times due to excessive NOx emissions at various speeds. However, with the help of Claude, a conversational AI, and Codex, an automated code-writing tool, Zulali was able to gather engine data and fault codes during test drives at 25 mph and 50 mph. The AI also assisted in controlling fuel pressure.
Despite the car's firmware being unable to be reflashed, Zulali utilized Codex to inject and execute custom code within an EEPROM. This solution enabled the Jeep to meet all the California smog tests. The entire project, including the wiring and driving, cost Zulali less than $15, thanks to the affordable $3 microcontroller and the free, open-source software available on GitHub under the GPLv3 license.
Written by urgent.news from Tom's Hardware's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
