The Cluely tool works using a secret screen inside the web browser. People watching the test or interview can't see it.
Columbia Students Launch Controversial AI Cheating Tool, Raising Ethical Concerns
Former students from Columbia University started a company called Cluely, which is causing disagreement. Cluely is AI powered cheating tool. Students can use it to cheat on tests, homework, job interviews, and exams.
The student, Chungin Roy Lee, and his co-founder Neel Shanmugam, both 21 years old, developed the tool while attending Columbia. At first, the tool was named Interview Coder. It let people use AI help secretly while doing job interviews. This was especially true on websites like LeetCode.
The use of this tool led to disciplinary action at the university, resulting in both students ultimately dropping out. But they didn’t give up. Now, they started Cluely, a company in San Francisco. They sell the tool as a helper that uses AI for everything. It can help with coding interviews, tests, sales calls, and other things.
How Cluely AI Cheating Tool Operate?
The Cluely tool works using a secret screen inside the web browser. People watching the test or interview can’t see it. Cluely allows users to get help from AI during testing. When Cluely first came out, the company said its goal was like a new version of calculators and spellcheckers. They said that cheating is really just trying to do things in the best way.
The video became popular quickly. People both liked and disliked it a lot. Some said it was like the show Black Mirror, which shows a bad future. The video’s title was “cheat on everything”.
Although some have concerns about the tool’s suitability, Lee states that Cluely now earns more than $3 million annually. The startup has received backing from investors at Abstract Ventures and Susa Ventures, signaling strong interest in the product.
The Cluely problem makes us think about how technology is used in schools. It also brings up moral issues about using AI to get around tests. As the debate continues, the future of Cluely and the broader implications of its technology remain uncertain.
Cluely’s arrival has clearly started a discussion about how tests in schools and jobs are changing. It makes us think about what is fair and allowed when people use AI to help themselves.
References
Lee, C., & Shanmugam, N. (2025). Cluely: An AI-powered cheating tool for assessments. Cluely. https://www.cluely.com
Additionally, to stay updated with the latest developments in STEM research, visit ENTECH Online. Basically, this is our digital magazine for science, technology, engineering, and mathematics. Furthermore, at ENTECH Online, you’ll find a wealth of information.
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Until 2023, Dr. Charudatta S Pathak held multiple academic positions, including lecturer, assistant professor, professor, dean, principal, director, and vice chancellor at public and private universities across India. From 2008 to 2010, he held the position of project lead in the CAE department at a European multinational corporation. Throughout his 28-year professional experience, he observed a requirement for reliable publications aimed at youngsters in grades 8 to 12, specifically for early-stage career planning. He initiated the establishment of ENTECH Digital Magazine, a complimentary periodical released on a monthly basis, accessible via stemconference.in and magzter.com. Teenagers with a keen interest in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) and aspiring to pursue professional paths in these domains can consider reading ENTECH Digital Magazine.
