South Korea Bans AI Glasses in Exams Amid Widespread Cheating; Taiwan Reports Similar Case

South Korea has officially prohibited the use of AI smart glasses in all examination venues following a surge in cheating cases involving the technology. The Seoul Metropolitan Office of Education has notified all primary and secondary schools about the ban, classifying these devices as prohibited items. Any student caught with such glasses in an exam hall will be considered to have cheated and will face disciplinary action according to school regulations.

The move comes after two major AI glasses cheating incidents were uncovered in TOEIC exams in South Korea in May. In both instances, test-takers' scores were invalidated upon confirmation of the cheating. The Ministry of Education in South Korea is also considering stricter measures for the upcoming November "College Scholastic Ability Test," potentially including AI glasses on a list of banned items to prevent disputes over specialized equipment.

Similar concerns have prompted action internationally. The College Board in the United States explicitly forbids smart glasses during SAT exams, and UK examination regulators have also issued warnings. In Taiwan, a student was caught using AI smart glasses during the second stage of National Taiwan University's entrance examination, marking the first such case for the institution. NTU's Office of Academic Affairs stated that any detected cheating or falsified information will result in a zero score, effectively disqualifying the applicant.

The examination center in Taiwan is currently developing standard operating procedures for AI glasses violations for future exams, including the "General Scholastic Ability Test" and "Subject Tests." The rapid advancement of AI smart glasses, which integrate cameras, microphones, and computer vision technology for real-time analysis, translation, and displaying information directly onto lenses, has created new challenges for academic integrity worldwide.