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Why Cluely’s Roy Lee Isn’t Worried About Cheating Detectors

Cluely founders: Roy Lee and team.

Image Credits: Cluely

Cluely, a fast-growing AI startup, made headlines for introducing an in-browser tool that analyzes online interactions—touting its so-called “undetectability” to let users secretly seek help or answers during online tests and interviews. Co-founder Roy Lee is no stranger to controversy, having been suspended from Columbia University after publicly sharing that he used Cluely (then "Interview Coder") to cheat on a coding assessment while applying to Amazon. Even as his company fends off university discipline, interest from investors and users has soared.

The Rise of "Anti-Cheating" Tools

Not everyone is cheering for Cluely. This week, Patrick Shen, another Columbia student, announced the launch of Truely, a product designed specifically to detect when candidates use unauthorized tools like Cluely during virtual interviews. Positioned as the "anti-Cluely," Truely claims to identify outside assistance in real-time.

Surprisingly, Lee isn’t anxious about this new wave of counter-surveillance. “We don’t care if we’re able to be detected or not,” Lee told TechCrunch. He describes Cluely’s stealth as a secondary, optional feature—one many enterprise users turn off to avoid legal risk. Instead, the company plans to encourage users to be more transparent, signaling a maturing attitude as the startup scales.

From 'Cheat on Everything' to Mainstream AI Utility

Cluely is moving beyond its original provocative marketing—much of which has been called "rage-bait"—toward a broader vision. After landing a $15 million Series A from Andreessen Horowitz, the company rebranded its tagline; what once was "cheat on everything" is now "Everything You Need. Before You Ask. … This feels like cheating." Lee says the product is evolving to compete directly with tools like ChatGPT, but with greater context-awareness, leveraging both screen and audio data during real-time interactions.

DeepFounder Analysis

Why it matters

Cluely’s journey reflects a growing debate at the intersection of AI, productivity, and digital ethics. For founders, it’s a case study in how controversial features—like undetectability—can jumpstart user growth but trigger regulatory scrutiny or even inspire defensive product ecosystems. As AI increasingly plugs into real-time workflows, the tension between enablement and accountability takes center stage for any startup hoping to operate in education or HR.

Risks & opportunities

The proliferation of both AI-assisted “cheating” tools and the parallel detection startups creates a technological arms race. For founders, there’s a reputational risk in being too closely associated with enabling academic dishonesty—or, conversely, with invasive "surveillance". Yet, this dynamic also opens opportunities for companies that find ethical, transparent middle ground—offering AI’s assistive power while supporting compliance and user consent. Similar arms races have played out in the cybersecurity and ad tech sectors, suggesting new business models will emerge around transparency, auditability, and responsible use.

Startup idea or application

Inspired by Cluely’s pivot, a fresh startup concept could be "AI Co-Pilot for Compliance": a tool designed for enterprises or educators that augments meetings, live assessments, or onboarding—with active user consent—flagging potential unauthorized tool use while also enhancing productivity and learning. This approach could balance empowerment and governance, gaining trust from both users and organizations.

If you’re intrigued by the evolving world of AI and compliance, you might enjoy these reads from the DeepFounder blog:

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