Adapted by:
Rubén Andrés
WriterWriter at Xataka. I've been working remotely for more than a decade and I'm a strong advocate of technology as a way to improve our lives. Full-time addict of black, sugar-free coffee.
Alba Mora
WriterAn established tech journalist, I entered the world of consumer tech by chance in 2018. In my writing and translating career, I've also covered a diverse range of topics, including entertainment, travel, science, and the economy.
Artificial intelligence advocates have been warning for several years that this technology will transform the world like electricity and the Internet did back in the day. Recently, two 21-year-old students, Chungin “Roy” Lee and Neel Shanmugam, developed an AI tool designed to “cheat on everything.”
With this tool, Lee successfully passed a technical test during the selection process for an internship at Amazon. However, using the tool also resulted in his suspension from Columbia University for “cheating.”
Shanmugam and Lee have launched a startup to further develop their AI tool. Investors have deemed their idea so promising that they backed it with a substantial $5.3 million investment.
With a Little Help from AI
According to CNBC, Lee was seeking an internship at a technology company. He felt that the technical test required during the selection process was unnecessary for the position he was applying for.
As such, he developed an AI-based tool called Interview Coder. The tool could be installed in a browser and analyze everything happening on the user’s screen without being detected by the interviewer.
With this AI tool, Lee received assistance for programming problems that arose during the test and found answers to questions for which he initially had no response. Thanks to this help, Lee was able to secure an internship at Amazon.
However, according to Columbia Daily Spectator, Lee and Shanmugam faced disciplinary action for using Interview Coder during job interviews. The university deemed the use of AI in the selection process as unethical.
Lee and Shanmugam have used the opportunity to embrace their tool’s potential. Initially, the AI system was offered at a monthly subscription fee between $25 and $60, and it was actively promoted on social media. Given its popularity, the two former students founded a startup called Cluely to further develop the project professionally.
It’s Not Cheating, It’s the Future
Despite the ethical controversies surrounding the use of AI tools, Lee and Shanmugam’s vision seems to have captured the attention of investors. Lee confirmed on LinkedIn that venture capital firms Abstract Ventures and Susa Ventures have supported the project with an initial investment of $5.3 million.
Founders explain their reasoning in a manifesto published on Cluely’s website. “Every time technology makes us smarter, the world panics. Then it adapts. Then it forgets. And suddenly, it’s normal,” they say.
The financial backing from these investors suggests they believe that using AI to streamline processes shouldn’t be viewed as cheating but rather as a natural evolution toward greater work efficiency.
In their manifesto, Lee and Shanmugam also emphasize that using AI isn’t cheating. They believe AI is a tool to achieve better results more quickly, similar to calculators, spell checkers, and even Google.
The Ethical Debate Over AI
The case of Lee and Shanmugam reflects the ethical dilemma that’s hindering the adoption of AI in the workplace. Many employees still feel that using AI to improve their productivity equates to cheating.
However, Lee and Shanmugam point out that no one questions the use of calculators for solving complex everyday tasks or the reliance on Google for quick information searches. It’s this perspective that has led investors to trust and invest in the concept introduced by Cluely. When the “normality” described by Lee and Shanmugam arrives, they’ll be rewarded.
The distinction lies in the context. Limiting the use of calculators, spell checkers, and Google is reasonable when assessing a person’s actual knowledge of a subject. For instance, using these tools during a math or language test would be considered unethical. In the end, tests aim to evaluate the ability to perform calculations or demonstrate knowledge of grammar and spelling.
The same could be said for technical tests in job interviews.
Related | AI Is Also a Tool for Getting a Job: ‘No One Will Be Able to Know’
View 0 comments