Cluely, an innovative AI startup, has recently captured attention by raising $5.3 million to develop tools that aim to assist individuals in “cheating on everything.” Founded by Neel Shanmugam, a student from Columbia University who faced suspension for creating an interview-cheating tool, the startup has sparked discussions about ethics and integrity in the age of artificial intelligence.
The birth of Cluely started from an unconventional place. Shanmugam, the company’s co-founder, created the interview-cheating device when he was still at Columbia. The success of his invention generated the interest of university officials, who moved to suspend him for violating tenets of academic integrity. Despite this setback, Shanmugam and his co-founders saw potential in their product and decided to transition it into a full-fledged startup.
Maggie Stamets, a Podcast Producer for TechCrunch based in Denver, Colorado, reported on Cluely’s journey, emphasizing its unique approach to leveraging AI in ways that challenge traditional notions of cheating. Stamets received her bachelor’s degree in Journalism with a minor in English from Hofstra University in New York. This robust educational foundation makes her uniquely capable to performance to break down complex narrative around emerging technologies and ethics.
In a lengthy thread posted on X, Cluely’s founders shared their experiences and the saga surrounding the startup’s origins. Especially by peeling back what their work really meant for society. Their research ignited a larger discussion on the issue of academic integrity and the impact that technology is having on competitive environments. The startup’s approach touches on larger ethical concerns about the limits of help and trickery in all sectors—not just higher education.
Cluely’s recent funding success illustrates more than a passing fancy in AI-driven solutions. Even those solutions walk a fine line between support and exploitation. Just as AI is developing, so will the definitions of cheating and academic integrity. Cluely’s mission is to inspire users to redefine what seeking help looks like. It prompts the debate on if utilizing AI tools is cheating or simply a new method of obtaining information.