This is an experience I had recently while conducting compensation and background verification procedures after a candidate was confirmed to have passed the final interview.

I requested the candidate's most recent three months' pay slips, withholding tax certificates, and health insurance qualification certificates. Only then did the candidate mention being on parental leave, which raised concerns about reliability and ultimately led to the company not making an offer. Being on parental leave is not an issue in itself, but the candidate did not disclose this fact during the application or the process, and even answered 'yes' when asked by the interviewer if they had taken a day off for the interview.

Hallucination

- A phenomenon where AI-generated information contains false or fabricated content

As a headhunter, I have often witnessed cases where candidates falsify or alter their career history, and not infrequently, these cases lead to the reversal of hiring decisions. Some claim to have done work they did not do or exaggerate their achievements, while others go further, such as reducing the number of job changes or combining periods at different companies to inflate their tenure at one. Unfortunately, sometimes the consequences go beyond a canceled offer and can have a critical impact on a person's career.

In the near future, similar concerns are said to exist in the upcoming era of AI. This is referred to as hallucination, a phenomenon where AI-generated information contains false or fabricated content. In March of this year, a court in Florida, USA, suspended attorney Thomas Grant Newsome from practicing in that court for one year. The reason was that, during a civil lawsuit, the documents submitted to the court contained not only inaccurate citations and sources but also referenced some case law that did not exist at all, as a result of relying on 'false' answers provided by AI.

Recently, I had the opportunity to attend an international forum on the theme of 'coexistence' between AI and humanity. Among the various sessions, I was particularly impressed by the remarks of Linda Mills, president of New York University, who said, "In an era of coexistence with AI, it will be more important than ever to maintain human qualities such as trust, reflection, and creativity."

"In an era of coexistence with AI, maintaining inherently human traits such as trust, reflection, and creativity will become more important than anything else."

-Linda Mills, President of NYU

Integrity goes beyond simply not telling lies. It includes keeping promises, accurately representing one's abilities and experiences, and having the courage to speak 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? While small acts of dishonesty may seem to provide short-term gains, in the long run, they can seriously damage an individual's credibility and reputation. Considering the deepening globalization and the current trend of 'entanglement' across borders, personal reputation, which can be verified on global networks, is becoming increasingly important.

In the age of AI, 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 of personal success but also of a healthy organizational culture and social development.

In conclusion, dignified company life in a rapidly changing era begins with integrity. This is not merely a matter of personal moral choice, but I believe it will remain a core competitive advantage in the workplace even in the coming AI era.

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Moon Sunkyung, Executive Director at Unico Search