Looking for how startups are catching users of the viral AI cheating app Cluely? You’re not alone. As Cluely gains attention for its "undetectable" in-browser AI cheating tool, startups like Validia and Proctaroo are stepping up with innovative software to detect and expose Cluely users. Whether you're curious about AI cheating detection, worried about remote job interview integrity, or tracking the rise of AI-assisted dishonesty, here's what you need to know about the growing battle against Cluely.
Cluely exploded into the spotlight last week by promoting its hidden browser window as an "undetectable" way to "cheat on everything" — from academic exams to professional interviews. The startup’s bold marketing claims, emphasizing total stealth and zero detection, stirred controversy across industries concerned with maintaining ethical standards.
However, several startups are now fighting back. San Francisco-based Validia swiftly responded with a free tool called Truely, engineered specifically to counter Cluely. According to Validia, Truely can instantly trigger alarms when it detects Cluely running on a user’s device. Positioned as a critical line of defense for educators, employers, and test proctors, Truely taps into high-value markets like online education security, corporate compliance, and remote work monitoring — all lucrative niches for boosting AdSense CPC.
Meanwhile, Rhode Island-based Proctaroo has entered the fray with its own detection platform. Proctaroo CEO Adrian Aamodt stated that their system identifies hidden background processes during live sessions, effectively exposing users trying to stealthily run Cluely. Aamodt didn’t mince words, condemning Cluely’s business model as "unethical" and likening it to the arms race seen in anti-cheat efforts within the gaming industry.
Despite these countermeasures, Cluely’s leadership remains defiant. CEO Chungin “Roy” Lee dismissed anti-cheating tools as ineffective, drawing parallels to the long history of failed cheating crackdowns in online gaming. Lee also hinted at a bold pivot: moving into AI hardware, such as smart glasses, transparent screen overlays, wearable AI recorders, or even brain chips. These innovations, he claims, could render anti-cheating software useless by bypassing traditional detection methods entirely.
While developing futuristic hardware like brain chips sounds ambitious, Lee insists the move would be "technologically trivial," brushing off comparisons to past high-profile failures like the Humane AI Pin. He sees AI-enhanced devices as the next logical step for maximizing human potential — and the company’s profit margins.
Still, the backlash has already triggered some changes. After facing public criticism, Cluely has quietly updated its website and manifesto, scrubbing references to cheating during exams and interviews. Now, Cluely promotes its tool mainly for "sales calls" and "business meetings," signaling a strategic repositioning toward less controversial — but still highly monetizable — markets.
When speaking to TechCrunch, Lee framed the shift as a smart business move: targeting larger, more impactful sectors where AI augmentation is not just tolerated but actively embraced. "Ultimately, we see a future where everyone uses AI to its utmost potential," Lee emphasized, positioning Cluely’s mission as aligned with the broader trend of AI adoption across industries like sales enablement, corporate training, and remote collaboration.
With Cluely redefining its narrative and rivals like Validia and Proctaroo sharpening their tools, the AI cheating arms race is only just beginning. How this emerging battleground evolves will have major implications for the future of education technology, hiring practices, and AI ethics.
Post a Comment