Ki -Startup, with which users can cheat on exams and interviews, collects 5.3 million US dollars

Two dropouts from Columbia University have received seed production of 5.3 million US dollars for their KI startup Cluely. The company markets its technology to “cheat everything” and to offer hidden support for tasks such as coding tests, interviews and sales talks in real time. Cluely’s AI tool offers answers from a hidden in-browser window that is invisible to others.

Cluely’s roots follow back to Interview Coder, a tool created by Chungin “Roy” Lee, which helped software engineers during the interviews. Lee’s project led to his suspension from Columbia University. He later developed it with NEEL Shanmugam and it became part of Cluely.

5 million US dollars to change the definition of the word “fraud”, https://t.co/rjudbs1ec5 https://t.co/bmbbnz1ft

– Roy (@im_roy_lee) April 21, 2025

Cluely’s AI works undetected in a hidden browser window and does real time for exams, sales calls and interviews. The company justified its approach by pulling parallels to pocket computers and spelling examination, and argued that tools that are originally regarded as fraud can be normalized over time. Cluely also announced a start video in which Mr. Lee was used with the tool for lying on a date.

Cluely is out. Consist on everything. pic.twitter.com/esrxqacfui

– Roy (@im_roy_lee) April 20, 2025

Despite controversy, the CEO from Cluely reported that the tool has achieved an annual turnover of 3 million US dollars.

The courageous positioning of the tool has attracted attention and raised questions about the ethics and effects of the use of AI in order to achieve an unfair advantage. While some interpreted it as a satirical comment on modern AI use, others criticized it to potentially normalize the dishonest behavior.

The tool was originally created to help developers at Leetcode, a platform for coding challenges and interview preparations. Mr. Lee claimed that he used the tool to secure an Amazon internship, but Amazon said that unauthorized tools are not permitted during the interviews.

The tool also helped him secure summer internships in TOP -Tech companies, including Amazon, Meta, Tiktok and more. Mr. Lee revealed that his true intention was not to land an internship, but to uncover the defects in the LeetCode interview process of TOP -Tech companies. He wanted to demonstrate the effectiveness of his AI tool, his interview coder and ultimately to bring about changes in the way companies carry out technical interviews.