A new form of exam cheating using artificial intelligence-powered smart glasses is spreading across Chinese universities, sparking growing controversy. The devices are nearly indistinguishable from regular eyeglasses and allow users to receive answers in real time, raising concerns that they could undermine the integrity of existing examination systems.
Students at some Chinese universities have been repeatedly using smart glasses linked to AI to instantly analyze exam questions and receive answers, according to a report by Rest of World, a nonprofit tech publication, on Sunday.
The devices were originally designed as wearable gadgets offering convenience features such as navigation, translation, photography and price comparison. In exam settings, however, they are being misused by photographing test papers with a built-in camera and displaying AI-generated analysis on the glasses' display. Users can check answers without noticeably moving their eyes, making it easy to evade proctors.
The performance impact has been verified. In an experiment conducted by researchers at the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology using smart glasses equipped with an AI model, wearers scored an average of 92.5 points. That far exceeds the overall class average of 72 points, demonstrating that the devices can directly influence academic performance.
Chinese authorities have banned the use of smart glasses during college entrance exams and civil service examinations. However, the devices' near-identical appearance to regular glasses makes on-site detection extremely difficult, a limitation widely acknowledged by officials.
Growing demand has rapidly spawned a rental market. Smart glasses rent for six to 12 dollars per day (approximately 9,000 to 18,000 won). Some vendors claim to have rented devices to more than 1,000 people in recent months. Ring-shaped miniature controllers used to covertly operate the glasses' functions have also been reported.
Similar cases have emerged overseas. In Japan, cheating involving smart glasses equipped with a camera and communication capabilities was detected during the 2024 Waseda University entrance exam. The examinee was found to have photographed test questions, transmitted them to a smartphone, and requested answers from acquaintances via social media.
Last year, an organized TOEIC proxy test-taking scheme using smart glasses and miniature microphones was also uncovered, resulting in hundreds of test scores being invalidated.
