Several startups have launched tools to detect Cluely, an AI-assisted cheating app that lets users secretly access information during exams or interviews.
Cluely was co-founded by Chungin “Roy” Lee and claims to be “undetectable,” sparking the development of countermeasures. These developments emerged on April, 2025, with Validia from San Francisco and Rhode Island’s Proctaroo introducing detection software to identify Cluely’s use.
AI Cheating App and Detection Efforts
Cluely operates through a hidden in-browser window, enabling users to cheat during assessments such as exams and job interviews. Its controversial claims led startups to respond with detection technologies designed to spot unauthorized AI assistance.
Validia’s free product ‘Truely’ triggers alerts upon detecting Cluely running on a device. Similarly, Proctaroo monitors active applications and background processes in proctored sessions to identify Cluely users. CEO Adrian Aamodt described Cluely’s business as “unethical.”
Impact and Industry Response
Cluely’s CEO Lee dismissed detection tools as ineffective, likening them to failed anti-cheating methods in the video game industry. Lee also suggested plans for hardware products like smart glasses or brain chips to bypass software-based detection.
Despite claims of being undetectable, Cluely has removed references to cheating on exams or interviews from its website, now focusing on markets like sales calls and meetings. Lee said the company is “redefining” its messaging to target larger markets.
These events emphasize the ongoing challenge educational and professional institutions face in maintaining integrity amid rapidly evolving AI technologies. The detection tools show a technological contest between cheating methods and countermeasures.
Cluely first rose to attention after going viral with claims of an “undetectable” AI window. Yet, scrutiny has reshaped its approach, reflecting tensions between AI innovation and ethical use.
Proctaroo’s CEO pointed out that their system can detect hidden processes like Cluely during sessions, reinforcing how anti-cheating platforms are adapting. Further information on Proctaroo’s launch is available here.
Lee also compared Cluely’s hardware ambitions to previous AI hardware failures, like Humane’s AI Pin. The interplay between AI cheating tools and detection technologies continues to evolve.
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