Startups Unveil Tools to Detect Users of Controversial AI Cheating App Cluely

Last week, the AI cheating app Cluely made headlines with its audacious claims about offering an "undetectable" in-browser window to help users cheat on various tasks, ranging from job interviews to exams. However, this has spurred a counter-reaction from other tech companies that have developed their own solutions to identify Cluele's users. Among these responses, San Francisco-based startup Validia launched a free product called 'Truely.' According to Validia, Truely can trigger an alarm if it detects someone using Cluele. Similarly, Rhode Island-based startup Proctaroo asserts that its platform can identify Cluele users. Proctaroo CEO Adrian Aamodt explained to TechCrunch, “When a Proctaroo session is active, we can see running applications and ‘hidden’ background processes—Cluele is no different.” Aamodt further criticized Cluele’s business model as unethical. In response to these anti-cheating efforts, Cluele’s co-founder and CEO, Chungin “Roy” Lee, dismissed the effectiveness of such tools. He likened them to the long-standing but often ineffective attempts to combat cheating in the video game industry. Lee confidently stated that Cluele might pivot to hardware development to sidestep these software-based anti-cheating measures entirely. “Whether it’s smart glasses, a transparent glass screen overlay, a recording necklace, or even a brain chip, we’re exploring our options,” Lee said. Despite the apparent technological challenges highlighted by previous AI hardware failures, such as Humane’s AI Pin, Lee remains undeterred. He emphasized that expanding to hardware is relatively straightforward and could render existing anti-cheating software obsolete. The scrutiny Cluele has faced seems to be making a mark, however. The company has removed references to cheating on exams and job interviews from its website and manifesto, which were significant selling points initially. Now, Cluele primarily markets itself as a tool for enhancing performance in contexts like sales calls and meetings. Lee explained to TechCrunch that Cluele is redefining its messaging to focus on the "largest and most impactful markets." He envisions a future where AI is embraced to its fullest potential and sees Cluele’s role as a catalyst in specific, large markets before gradually broadening its reach. “We see a future where everyone uses AI to its utmost potential, and that means planting ourselves in large, specific markets and expanding outward from there,” Lee said. This shift in Cluele’s strategy suggests that while the company is facing ethical and practical challenges, it is also evolving to position itself more strategically within the tech landscape. The ongoing debate highlights the rapid development and ethical complexities surrounding the use of AI in various domains.