A controversial AI startup called Cluely AI has gone viral for its promise to help users “cheat on everything,” including job interviews and exams, using an undetectable in-browser tool. But while Cluely gains attention, rival startups and critics are pushing back, calling the company’s product unethical — and claiming they can detect it.
Cluely’s main offering is a hidden browser window designed to give users real-time AI assistance without being noticed. The startup’s co-founder and CEO, Chungin “Roy” Lee, boldly claims that Cluely is immune to anti-cheating software. He also says the company may soon bypass software detection entirely by moving into hardware — including futuristic options like smart glasses or even brain chips.
But not everyone is buying Cluely’s claims.
Competitors Fight Back with Detection Tools
Validia, a San Francisco-based startup, recently launched a tool called “Truely,” a direct counter to Cluely. Truely is free and, according to Validia, can detect and sound an alert if Cluely is in use. Another competitor, Rhode Island-based Proctaroo, says its proctoring platform can identify Cluely running in the background during sessions.
“When a Proctaroo session is active, we can see all running applications and hidden processes. Cluely is no different,” said Proctaroo CEO Adrian Aamodt, who criticized Cluely’s business model as “unethical.”
Both Validia and Proctaroo say they’re committed to academic integrity and fair evaluation in hiring and education — areas where Cluely had originally focused its marketing.
Cluely Scrubs Messaging, Refocuses Strategy
Amid rising scrutiny, Cluely appears to have quietly shifted its messaging. Originally, its website and manifesto promoted the tool as a way to cheat on exams and job interviews. Those references have now been removed.
In an interview with TechCrunch, Roy Lee said the company is “redefining” its messaging to better align with “the largest and most impactful markets.” Cluely’s current messaging instead highlights AI “assistance” for use in settings like sales calls and work meetings.
“We see a future where everyone uses AI to its utmost potential,” Lee said. “That means planting ourselves in large, specific markets and expanding from there.”
Eyeing the Future: From Software to Hardware
Despite the backlash and detection efforts, Lee remains unfazed. In fact, he believes Cluely may soon render all detection software obsolete. The company is exploring hardware products — including transparent glass screen overlays, smart glasses, recording necklaces, and even brain chips — to create entirely new ways to deliver AI help covertly.
Lee downplayed the technical challenges of hardware development, calling it “quite trivial,” even though high-profile AI hardware devices like the Humane AI Pin have stumbled. He views past attempts to block cheating — especially in gaming — as largely ineffective and says the same will happen with Cluely’s competitors.
“We’ve seen this before in the video game industry — endless anti-cheat tools, none of which worked forever,” he said.
A Murky Path Ahead
Cluely’s viral moment and controversial promise have thrust it into the spotlight, but the long-term future is unclear. The backlash from educators, employers, and rival startups shows the growing tension between AI innovation and ethical boundaries.
For now, Cluely is adapting its brand and preparing for a hardware leap — betting that the future of AI assistance lies not just in software, but in the seamless integration of AI into the human experience.
