0
AI-generated image. / Source: Yonhap, graphic by Park Jong-gyu

A man in his 20s has been referred to prosecutors for taking a national certification exam while wearing smart glasses equipped with generative artificial intelligence (AI) technology.

Seoul's Songpa Police Station said on Oct. 23 that it had referred the man, identified only as A, to the Seoul Eastern District Public Prosecution Office without detention last week on charges of obstruction of business and violations of the National Technical Qualifications Act.

The man is suspected of cheating using AI-powered smart glasses during the Engineer Information Processing certification exam administered by the Human Resources Development Service of Korea (HRD Korea) on May 22.

The cheating was reportedly discovered when an exam supervisor noticed a camera lens and indicator light attached to the frame of A's glasses while monitoring the test takers.

An investigation found that A had entered a command asking the AI to "solve the questions" in advance into a mobile phone application connected to the smart glasses.

A forensic examination of A's phone found no evidence that he had conspired with others to cheat or photographed exam questions and leaked them outside the examination venue.

                                                                                                             Kim Tae-hoon