A16Z Backs 'Cheat' AI

Andreessen Horowitz has spearheaded a $15 million funding round for Cluely Inc, an AI startup known for its controversial marketing and provocative slogan, 'cheat on everything'. Cluely offers an AI-powered desktop assistant designed to provide real-time support during meetings, customer support calls, brainstorming sessions and collaborative tasks. The tool operates discreetly, interpreting live audio and on-screen context to deliver proactive insights.

Cluely's founder, Roy Lee, gained notoriety for creating Interview Coder, a tool that helped users 'cheat' on coding interviews, resulting in his suspension from Columbia University. Despite the controversy, Cluely has secured contracts and deployments in enterprise environments, particularly in sales. The company's growth team has driven brand awareness through viral campaigns and user-generated content, generating consumer subscription revenue.

Cluely's technology scans the user's screen and provides context-aware answers in real-time, similar to ChatGPT but designed for deception. While initially promoting cheating in various settings, the platform now focuses on business applications. Validia, a San Francisco-based company, has launched Truely, a tool to detect Cluely's use during interviews, highlighting the ethical debate surrounding AI-driven assistance.