A new startup called Cluely has sparked widespread controversy following the launch of what it claims is a completely undetectable AI assistant designed to help users cheat in real time. The tool is marketed as an overlay that can provide AI-generated answers during interviews, quizzes, meetings and sales calls, without detection.
The announcement was made in a viral post by Cluely’s 21-year-old CEO, Roy Lee, who posted on X:
“Cluely is out. Cheat on everything.”
(Posted on April 20, 2025 at 9:59 PM)
In a separate post on X made earlier the same day at 2:00 PM PST, Lee stated:
“We’re changing the definition of the word ‘cheating’. If we accomplish what we set out to do, we will change the course of human history.”
On its official website, Cluely describes itself as a desktop assistant that sees your screen, hears your audio, and provides contextual AI responses in real time. The platform highlights use cases across multiple scenarios.
The manifesto website carries bold messaging, stating:
“We want to cheat on everything.”
The company has raised $5.3 million in funding, although investor identities have not been disclosed. The tool’s overt association with the word “cheating” has prompted swift backlash and questions about its ethical implications, particularly in education and hiring.
As of this report, Cluely and its CEO are trending on social media, with millions of views and thousands of interactions on launch day. Legal experts and educational institutions are beginning to weigh in on whether the company’s offering violates privacy, testing protocols, or professional codes of conduct.