Cluely AI can change how we talk online—but is it cheating

Aug 07, 2025

Cover Cluely, which was established less than four months ago, has become popular for its ‘AI cheating tool’

Cluely, which was established less than four months ago, has become popular for its ‘AI cheating tool’

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AI startup Cluely aims to outpace ChatGPT with its real-time cheat sheets for any situation, from job interviews to first dates

Cluely AI, also known as Cluely, is an application that delivers real-time responses based on what it sees on the user’s screen and hears through audio. Launched less than four months ago, it has attracted attention for its core feature that lets you “cheat on anything” through real-time AI assistance. The tool can be used in various scenarios—job interviews, dating and sales—as it can instantly read on-screen content and generate an appropriate response, which is shown on a semi-transparent overlay window. It provides real-time suggestions and contextual keyword insights by analysing the conversation, helping users present their best selves in any interaction.

The birth of Cluely was mired in controversy. Its 21-year-old Korean founder, Chungin Roy Lee, was suspended from Columbia University this year after using his self-developed tool, Interview Coder (the precursor to Cluely), during a job interview with Amazon.

Following the incident, he swiftly built his company, securing US$5.3 million (approximately HK$41.6 million) in seed funding. In June 2025, it also raised an additional US$15 million (approximately HK$117.75 million) in funding by Andreessen Horowitz (a16z), a prominent venture capital firm, according to Lee’s post on X.

Also read: Can AI really think or only create an illusion of thinking?

Above Founder Roy Lee personally demonstrated how to use Cluely

A rebellious new star in the field of AI?

“Two years later, no one will think this is cheating anymore,” Lee asserted in the company’s official video in response to his experience of being suspended from Columbia University. His unique style is also reflected in the company’s business philosophy.

Cluely has carried on the unconventional operational style characteristic of tech startups. The company’s official YouTube channel adopts an influencer-style approach, continuously promoting its brand philosophy and development progress through a series of “rage-bait” creative videos, which refers to a marketing tactic that deliberately stirs controversy to provoke public emotion and attract attention. For instance, Lee transformed his Columbia University suspension into marketing material, positioning Cluely as a “shortcut tool” that helps users cheat.

Meanwhile, Cluely has made social media marketing a core strategy. Lee stated on the Sourcery podcast that the company only hires engineers and influencers, “We have just two types of positions: one develops the product, the other makes it go viral.”

Above Roy Lee reenacted his experience of being suspended from Columbia University in the video announcing Cluely’s Series A funding

Next goal: replace ChatGPT

After successfully securing Series A funding from a16z, Cluely adjusted its marketing strategy, shifting its core positioning to an “AI assistant that answers before you ask”—touting its ability to anticipate user needs before they’re voiced. The company’s next strategic objective is even more ambitious: to replace ChatGPT’s conversational AI model by building a next-gen AI platform with “cross-screen content analysis and real-time voice interaction” capabilities.

This article was originally written in Chinese on July 17 by Cathy Huang. Read the original article here.