New guidance highlights emerging academic integrity risks from AI glasses and wearables

The National Academic Integrity Network (NAIN) has published a new resource, Academic Integrity: AI Glasses and Wearables, highlighting the emerging challenges that AI-enabled wearable technologies can present for academic integrity and assessment.  

The publication of this new guidance comes at a time when AI-enabled smart glasses and other wearable technologies become more widely available, creating new challenges for academic integrity. Smart glasses can combine cameras, microphones, speakers and AI assistants in frames that closely resemble conventional eyewear, making the use of AI during assessment potentially less visible. 

For education and training providers, as these technologies become more commonplace, they introduce new considerations around the integrity and security of assessment. Wearable technology could potentially be used during examinations to access AI-generated assistance, record or transmit examination materials, communicate with others or receive information discreetly.  

Commenting on the publication, Dr Mary-Claire Kennedy, Chairperson of the National Academic Integrity Network, said: 

“As AI becomes embedded in everyday devices, the challenges for academic integrity are evolving too. Education and training providers need to be aware of these developments and consider whether their assessment practices, policies and guidance remain fit for purpose.” 

Dr Kennedy highlights that the new guidance recognises that these technologies can also have legitimate and valuable uses, including as assistive technologies for learners with specific learning requirements explaining “Rather than advocating a blanket approach, the new guidance produced by NAIN encourages education and training providers to consider how existing assessment practices, policies and learner supports should respond to this evolving technology”. 

The resource sets out practical steps organisations can take, including reviewing examination guidelines and relevant policies, training invigilators, communicating rules clearly to learners and continuing to promote a strong culture of academic integrity.  

As AI moves beyond laptops and smartphones and into everyday wearable devices, the publication provides a timely resource for those seeing to protect the integrity of assessment while ensuring that responses to new technologies remain proportionate and inclusive.