AI‑enabled glasses spark exam cheating concerns across East Asia

New AI‑powered smart glasses can discreetly photograph exam questions and transmit them to a generative‑AI model, which returns answers displayed on the lenses or via audio. Devices have been found in South Korea, Taiwan and China.

In May, two candidates in South Korea were caught using AI glasses during an English TOEIC test and received four‑year bans. In Taiwan, a medical‑school applicant was discovered after supervisors noted unusual heat from the frames. Chinese provinces have begun physical inspections of eyewear ahead of the Gaokao exam, which involves over 13 million students annually.

Researchers, including a Hong‑Kong university professor who tested commercial AI glasses in an engineering exam, reported top‑five results among 100 students, highlighting how effective the technology can be. Experts warn the devices are becoming thinner, cheaper and harder to detect, comparing the impact to that of ChatGPT on essays, and call for exam formats to shift away from memorisation‑based assessment.