Cluely’s Strategy: From Cheating Controversy to ChatGPT Rivalry
Cluely’s Strategy: From Cheating Controversy to ChatGPT Rivalry
Cluely, the AI-powered browser assistant, is no stranger to controversy. The startup gained rapid attention for its provocative claim that its tool could help users “cheat on everything” by running undetectable in-browser AI during online interactions. But as debates over academic integrity and recruitment practices heat up, Cluely’s co-founder Roy Lee appears unfazed by the rise of anti-cheating software—and is shifting focus to much bigger ambitions.
The Cheating Debate: An Origin Story
Cluely’s journey began under a different name—Interview Coder—when Roy Lee reportedly used it to “cheat” on a coding interview at Amazon. This admission led to his suspension from Columbia University, but the buzz only fueled Cluely’s growth.[1]
Enter Truely: The Anti-Cheating Challenger
Recently, Columbia student Patrick Shen announced the launch of Truely, a tool designed to detect the use of apps like Cluely during online interviews. Marketed as “anti-Cluely,” Truely aims to catch users running unauthorized software in the background.[2]
Yet, Lee remains unfazed. He stated, “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.”
Cluely’s Response: Transparency and Evolution
Rather than engaging in a tech arms race, Lee publicly praised Truely and hinted that Cluely may even encourage users to be more transparent about their AI usage. As regulatory and ethical scrutiny intensifies, this shift could be crucial for Cluely’s future.
From Cheating to Productivity: A New Marketing Approach
Cluely recently secured $15 million in Series A funding from Andreessen Horowitz, signaling strong investor confidence.[3] Alongside the funding, Cluely has rebranded its tagline from “cheat on everything” to a more nuanced “Everything You Need. Before You Ask. … This feels like cheating.”[4]
Some have labeled Cluely’s earlier campaigns as “rage-bait marketing,” designed to provoke strong reactions and drive viral attention.[5] Now, the company is pivoting towards positioning itself as a productivity powerhouse, aiming to provide real value to businesses and individuals alike.
Looking Forward: Taking On ChatGPT
Roy Lee’s vision extends far beyond controversy. He wants Cluely to become a daily essential—an AI assistant that not only answers questions like ChatGPT, but also interacts with content on your screen and listens to audio in real time. As Lee puts it, “Every time you would reach for chatgpt.com, our goal is to create a world where you instead reach for Cluely.”
- Business Application: For organizations, Cluely could offer AI-powered support during meetings, interviews, or workflow processes, bridging the gap between passive AI chatbots and real-time digital assistants.
- Ethical Pivot: By encouraging transparency and focusing on productivity, Cluely is signaling its intent to move away from the ‘cheating’ narrative and build trust with enterprise clients.
Conclusion
As AI assistants become more embedded in our digital lives, the line between productivity and academic or professional integrity will continue to blur. Cluely’s evolution and response to detection tools like Truely shows that the future of AI isn’t just about staying a step ahead of watchdogs—it’s about redefining how we work with AI, transparently and responsibly.
