Why Cluely’s Roy Lee isn’t sweating cheating detectors
Cluely, an AI startup that has quickly gained notoriety for its controversial ‘undetectability’ feature, is making waves with its bold claim of letting users “cheat on everything.” This innovative yet contentious platform utilizes a hidden in-browser window to discreetly analyze online conversations, raising significant questions about integrity in digital interactions.
At the heart of Cluely’s story is its co-founder, Roy Lee, whose past actions have fueled much of the debate surrounding the company. Lee faced suspension from Columbia University after openly admitting to using Cluely, then known as Interview Coder, to gain an unfair advantage during a coding test for an Amazon developer position. This personal anecdote became a cornerstone of Cluely’s initial marketing, emphasizing its ability to bypass conventional detection methods.
The controversy escalated recently with the emergence of Truely, a new product built by another Columbia University student, Patrick Shen. Announced on X, Truely positions itself as an “anti-Cluely” tool, specifically designed to identify unauthorized application usage by individuals in online meetings or interviews, directly targeting Cluely’s core premise of invisibility.
However, Truely’s launch appears to have left Roy Lee unfazed. In a recent statement to TechCrunch, Lee clarified, “We don’t care if we’re able to be detected or not. The invisibility function is not a core feature of Cluely. It’s a nifty add-on. In fact, most enterprises opt to disable the invisibility altogether because of legal implications.” He further engaged with Shen on X, commending Truely while indicating that Cluely would likely encourage its users to be more upfront about their usage moving forward.
This shift aligns with a broader strategic pivot for Cluely. Following a substantial $15 million Series A funding round from Andreessen Horowitz last month, the company has subtly recalibrated its public image. Its tagline has evolved from the provocative “cheat on everything” to the more suggestive “Everything You Need. Before You Ask. … This feels like cheating,” indicating a move towards broader utility rather than illicit advantage. This marketing approach has been characterized by some as a form of ‘rage-bait marketing,’ designed to generate discussion and attention.
Lee’s ambitions for Cluely extend far beyond its initial controversial reputation. He envisions Cluely as a direct competitor to ChatGPT, aiming to replace it as the go-to AI tool for users. “Every time you would reach for chatgpt.com, our goal is to create a world where you instead reach for Cluely,” Lee stated. He emphasizes Cluely’s unique advantage: its ability to not only process information like ChatGPT but also integrate context from the user’s screen and audio environment, offering a more comprehensive and real-time AI assistant experience.
