Cluely is a controversial AI-powered desktop assistant designed to provide real-time support during various professional and academic situations. Marketed as "invisible AI to cheat on meetings, sales calls, and more," Cluely offers users the ability to receive AI-generated answers and assistance without being detected.
What is Cluely?
Cluely is a desktop application that:
- Creates an undetectable in-browser window that sees your screen and listens to audio
- Provides real-time AI-generated responses to questions and scenarios
- Remains invisible even when screen sharing
- Offers context-aware assistance for various situations
According to its website, Cluely describes itself as "a completely undetectable desktop assistant that sees your screen and hears your audio" to provide real-time support during interviews, meetings, and calls.
Origins and Development
Cluely was founded by Chungin "Roy" Lee and Neel Shanmugam, both former Columbia University students. The company recently made headlines by securing $5.3 million in seed funding from investors including Soma Capital and Breyer Capital. The founders' journey is notable:
- Lee and Shanmugam were suspended from Columbia University for using an earlier version of their tool (Interview Coder) for academic work
- Rather than abandoning the project, they expanded it into Cluely, positioning it as a universal AI assistant
- The founders have assumed the roles of CEO and COO, respectively, at the company
How Cluely Works
Cluely operates as a discreet AI companion that:
- Listens to live conversations via your device's microphone
- Captures screen content for context
- Analyzes the information in real-time
- Provides tailored responses through an invisible browser window
The tool is designed for various use cases:
- Job interviews: Provides answers to technical and behavioral questions
- Sales calls: Offers scripts, rebuttals, and talking points
- Meetings: Suggests responses and insights during discussions
- Exams: Generates answers for academic assessments
Unlike general AI tools, Cluely is specifically designed to remain undetectable during screen sharing and remote interactions. It uses advanced natural language processing to deliver context-aware responses that match the user's communication style.
Pricing and Availability
Cluely offers different versions of its service:
- A free standard version with limited features
- A pro version priced at $20 monthly or $100 annually that includes more powerful AI models
The Ethical Debate
Cluely has ignited significant ethical discussions:
The Company's Perspective
In their manifesto, Cluely compares their technology to once-controversial tools like calculators and spell checkers:
"We want to cheat on everything. Yep, you heard that right... Yes, the world will call it cheating. But so was the calculator. So was spellcheck. So was Google. Every time technology makes us smarter, the world panics. Then it adapts. Then it forgets. And suddenly, it's normal."
They argue that AI assistance is simply the next evolution in technological augmentation, positioning Cluely as a tool that:
- Levels the playing field for non-native speakers and those without elite education
- Responds to flawed hiring practices that value polish over substance
- Represents an inevitable shift in how we use technology to enhance our capabilities
Critical Concerns
Critics and ethics experts raise several concerns:
- Misrepresentation of abilities in professional and academic environments
- Undermining of merit-based systems and fairness
- Erosion of trust between employers and employees
- Potential long-term consequences for users who become reliant on AI assistance
Current Impact and Future Implications
Cluely represents a significant development in how AI might be used to augment human capabilities in high-stakes situations. Its emergence raises questions about:
- The future of assessment in education and hiring
- The potential need for new detection technologies
- How institutions might adapt evaluation methods
- The evolving relationship between human ability and technological assistance
The tool's controversial nature and substantial funding indicate that it may represent the beginning of a new trend in AI applications that blur the line between augmentation and deception.
Summary
Cluely positions itself as a revolutionary tool that provides invisible AI assistance across various contexts. While its founders frame it as a democratizing technology, critics see it as undermining integrity in professional and academic environments. Regardless of perspective, Cluely's emergence represents a significant development in how AI may be integrated into high-stakes human interactions.
