Hecto Group Successfully Concludes Recruitment-Linked AI Competition, Accelerates Talent Acquisition

HECTO Group announced on March 12 that it has successfully concluded its AI talent discovery program by holding the final round of its recruitment-linked artificial intelligence (AI) competition, the 'Hi! HECTO AI Challenge.'

Participants of the recruitment-linked artificial intelligence (AI) competition, "Hi! Hecto AI Challenge," are taking a commemorative photo. Hecto Group

This challenge was organized by HECTO Group to discover talents with competitive AI technology skills and connect them to recruitment opportunities. The competition was conducted in collaboration with the data science platform Dacon. In particular, the event was designed to discover technologies capable of detecting deepfake content, which has become a social issue with the rise of generative AI, and to identify the next generation of AI talent who can lead these advancements.

HECTO Group is reinforcing its digital competitiveness by applying AI technology to various services based on its fintech, data, and platform businesses. Centered around its internal AI research division, the HAI Headquarters, the group is advancing a variety of projects including data analysis, AI model development, and automation technology, and is continuously expanding the development of AI technologies that are actually applied to its services.

The preliminary round was held online for approximately seven weeks, from December 15 last year to February 2 this year. Under the theme of 'Developing AI Models for Deepfake Detection,' participants competed in a technological showdown. They showcased their capabilities by utilizing advanced AI modeling and creative approaches to data, enabling rapid and accurate detection of deepfakes in video and image content.

The top 10 teams from the online preliminary round demonstrated the performance and originality of their AI models at the offline finals held on the 11th. The grand prize was awarded to a team composed of students from Kookmin University and Kwangwoon University, who received a prize of 10 million won. This team was highly praised for presenting a model that effectively balanced technical implementation and processing speed, as well as for their strategic approach, technical choices, experimental design, and overall logical structure. The runner-up was a joint team from Ewha Womans University and Sogang University, while third place went to a solo participant from Hanyang University, all of whom demonstrated their capabilities as the next generation of AI experts.

HECTO Group is providing tangible recruitment benefits to the prize-winning participants. The top winning teams will be exempt from both the document screening and first interview stages when applying for positions at HECTO Group. In addition, all 30 finalist teams will be registered in the company's AI talent pool and will be given priority consideration for future recruitment in AI research and development and data-related roles.

HECTO Group is committed not only to actively discovering outstanding talent but also to supporting its members in deepening their expertise and ensuring continuous growth by offering a variety of educational programs and systematic competency development opportunities.

A HECTO Group representative stated, "This competition was more than just a contest of technical skills; it was a meaningful opportunity to meet key AI talents who can uphold social trust," adding, "We will continue to expand opportunities for capable individuals to challenge themselves and grow, thereby strengthening HECTO's technological competitiveness and taking the lead in building a healthy AI ecosystem."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.