Bridging Decades: The Commodore 64 Meets ChatGPT
In a remarkable fusion of retro computing and modern artificial intelligence, Italian developer Francesco Sblendorio has enabled the iconic Commodore 64 to interact with ChatGPT, OpenAI's advanced language model.
This achievement, highlighted by ANSA, showcases both the enduring versatility of the Commodore 64 and the innovative spirit of the tech community.
A Vintage Machine with a New Brain
The Commodore 64, a staple of 1980s home computing, was known for its 64KB of RAM and BASIC programming capabilities. Despite these limitations, Sblendorio has successfully connected it to ChatGPT through the RetroCampus BBS, a platform that emulates old-school bulletin board systems.
Using a Wi-Fi modem or a modern browser, users can access this BBS and witness the Commodore 64 sending and receiving messages with ChatGPT — enabling real-time conversations between user and AI.
Behind the Scenes: How It Works
The process involves connecting the Commodore 64 to the internet using a Wi-Fi modem and terminal software such as CCGMS. The RetroCampus BBS acts as a bridge, relaying messages between the old machine and OpenAI’s API.
Even more impressively, ChatGPT can generate BASIC code that runs directly on the Commodore 64 — breathing new life into vintage software development.
Nostalgia Meets Innovation
This project is a perfect blend of technological nostalgia and forward-looking creativity. It honors the roots of home computing while demonstrating the expansive capabilities of AI in adapting to nearly any system — no matter how outdated.
It’s a celebration of curiosity, clever engineering, and the timeless appeal of classic machines like the Commodore 64.
Try It Yourself
You can connect using a Commodore 64 with a Wi-Fi modem, or simply through a modern computer at bbs.retrocampus.com.
Support the project and follow future developments on Francesco Sblendorio's Patreon.
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