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AI Startup Cluely Gains Traction Despite Ethics Concerns

Founded by a suspended Columbia student, Cluely has secured $5.3M in funding and 70,000 users, reigniting debates over AI's role in education and hiring.

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A commercial for the app shows its founder, Chungin Lee, using it on a date
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Overview

  • Cluely, an AI tool designed to provide real-time assistance in live interactions, has officially launched with 70,000 users and over $3M in annual recurring revenue.
  • The startup was co-founded by Chungin 'Roy' Lee, who was suspended from Columbia University for posting disciplinary hearing materials related to an earlier version of the tool.
  • Cluely raised $5.3M in seed funding from investors including Abstract Ventures and Susa Ventures, highlighting strong financial backing despite ethical criticisms.
  • Users have reported issues such as latency, generic or incorrect outputs, and privacy risks, prompting the creators to implement performance updates.
  • The app has sparked debates about the ethics of AI-enabled 'cheating,' with its creators defending it as a disruptive innovation akin to calculators or spellcheck.