[K-Women Talk] Integrity: The Unchanging Competitive Edge in Company Life Even in the AI Era

Concerns over Citing False Information Generated by AI
The Irreplaceable Importance of Human Nature

Munsun Kyung, Executive Director at Unico Search

Recently, after a candidate's final interview pass was confirmed, we proceeded with the treatment and career verification process, during which an incident occurred.

We requested the candidate's salary statements for the past three months, withholding tax receipts, and health insurance qualification certificates. Only then did the candidate mention being on parental leave, which raised issues of trust and ultimately led to no offer being made by the company. Being on parental leave is not a problem in itself, but the candidate neither disclosed this fact during the application process nor during the proceedings. When asked during the interview if they had taken leave to attend, the candidate even answered "yes."

As a headhunter, I often encounter cases where candidates falsify or alter their career records, and I have seen many hiring decisions reversed because of this. Beyond exaggerating or claiming to have done things they did not, there are various cases such as reducing the number of job changes or combining one year at Company A and six months at Company B into one year and six months at Company A. The unfortunate part is that these cases sometimes cause not only hiring cancellations but also fatal damage to personal careers.

In the near future, similar concerns are expected to arise in the AI era. This phenomenon, called hallucination, refers to the inclusion of false or fabricated information in AI-generated content. In March, a court in Florida, USA, suspended attorney Thomas Grant Newsom from practicing for one year. The reason was that during a civil lawsuit, he submitted documents to the court citing cases and sources that were inaccurate, and some precedents did not even exist, as he directly quoted the 'false' answers provided by AI.

Recently, I had the opportunity to attend an international forum on the common theme of 'coexistence' between AI and humanity. Among various sessions, the statement by Linda Mills, president of New York University, was particularly impressive to me: "In an era of coexistence with AI, maintaining inherently human traits such as trust, reflection, and creativity will become more important than ever."

Integrity goes beyond simply not lying. It includes keeping promises, accurately representing one's abilities and experiences, and having the courage to tell the truth even in difficult situations. This is a uniquely human value and strength that AI cannot easily imitate.

So, what does integrity mean in the workplace? Dishonest acts, even if considered trivial, might bring short-term benefits, but in the long run, they can seriously damage an individual's trustworthiness and reputation. Considering the current trend of globalization and cross-border entanglement, an individual's reputation, which can be verified through global networks, inevitably becomes more important.

In the AI era, we must learn how to coexist with technology. At the same time, we must strengthen human values, especially integrity and trust. This is not only the foundation for individual success but also for a healthy organizational culture and societal development.

In conclusion, dignified company life in these turbulent times begins with integrity. This is not merely a matter of personal moral choice but perhaps the unchanging competitive edge of company life in the coming AI era.

Moon Seon-kyung, Executive Director, Unico Search