Cluely: Columbia Student Suspended for AI Cheating Tool Raises $5.3M for Startup That Helps Users ‘Cheat on Everything’

Chungin “Roy” Lee, a 21-year-old former Columbia University student, is making headlines after securing $5.3 million in pre-seed funding for his controversial AI startup, Cluely. The startup, co-founded with Neel Shanmugam, aims to redefine how we think about cheating using artificial intelligence.

What’s turning heads? The bold claim that Cluely is building an “AI tool to cheat on everything” — from job interviews and exams to sales calls and meetings.

The Beginning: Interview Coder and Columbia University Suspension

Lee’s journey began with a controversial tool called Interview Coder, an invisible, browser-based AI assistant designed to help software engineers cheat in technical interviews — particularly those featuring LeetCode-style problems commonly used by major tech companies like Amazon, Meta, and TikTok. The tool quickly went viral on social media, with many users posting positive reviews praising its ability to provide real-time AI help during live interviews without being detected. 

However, the growing attention also attracted backlash. Soon after, Columbia University suspended Lee, and he reportedly faced criticism from companies like Meta and Amazon for developing what they saw as an unethical platform. Columbia has not issued an official statement, citing student privacy policies.

Cluely: AI Tool That “Sees, Hears, and Helps” in Real Time

Rather than backing down, Lee doubled down. He and Shanmugam launched Cluely, a San Francisco-based AI startup that builds on Interview Coder’s foundation.

“A completely undetectable AI that sees your screen, hears your audio, and gives you real-time assistance in any situation,” says Lee.

Whether you’re in an exam, job interview, sales pitch, or assignment, Cluely operates via a hidden browser window — remaining invisible while offering context-aware AI-generated assistance.

Cluely Secures $5.3M in Pre-Seed Funding

Despite its controversial nature, Cluely has attracted substantial investor interest. On April 20, Lee announced on LinkedIn that the startup had raised $5.3 million from major investors, including Abstract Ventures and Susa Ventures.

“They called calculators cheating. They called Google cheating. The world will say the same about AI,” said the startup in a bold announcement. “We’re not stopping.”

This statement reflects the startup’s intent to challenge societal norms around AI and productivity, arguing that technological disruption is often mischaracterized as cheating in its early stages.

Ethical Concerns: Is Cluely Just Another AI Cheating Tool?

Cluely’s mission has triggered widespread debate in the tech and education communities. While supporters argue that it’s a natural evolution of human-AI collaboration, critics see it as a tool that encourages academic dishonesty and unethical behavior in professional settings.

“To be honest, I don’t think this is cheating,” Lee said. “Every single time technology has made people smarter, the world panics. Then it adapts. Then it forgets. And suddenly, it’s normal.”

This philosophical take reframes the discussion: Is AI assistance a violation of ethics, or a glimpse into the future of augmented intelligence?

AI in Interviews, Exams, and Beyond: A Technological Inflection Point

Lee argues that AI will revolutionize every aspect of life — from education and employment to how we communicate. Cluely positions itself as a bridge to this AI-driven future, promoting a world where humans don’t compete with artificial intelligence but rather collaborate and grow alongside it. 

Unlike tools such as Grammarly, ChatGPT, or Google Assistant, which offer visible support, Cluely AI features go a step further by providing invisible, real-time, and contextual assistance during high-stakes scenarios like exams, job interviews, and sales calls. While innovative, this approach raises critical concerns about transparency, accountability, and ethical integrity in both academic and professional settings.

The Bigger Picture: Redefining “Cheating” in the AI Age

As the line between assistance and dishonesty blurs, startups like Cluely are forcing institutions, employers, and educators to reconsider outdated systems.

• Is AI assistance in exams truly cheating?
  
• Should companies adapt their interview processes to detect AI usage?
  
• What ethical frameworks should govern the rise of invisible AI tools?
  

These are the questions Cluely is surfacing — whether we’re ready or not.

📝 Final Thoughts

Love it or hate it, Cluely represents a bold and controversial vision for the future of AI-human interaction. From his suspension at Columbia University to raising $5.3 million in startup funding, Chungin “Roy” Lee’s journey signals a clear message: AI isn’t just coming — it’s already challenging the status quo. And with easy access through a seamless Cluely AI login, users are stepping into a new era where real-time, invisible AI assistance is redefining how we approach interviews, exams, and professional tasks — whether the world is ready for it or not.