Cluely: The Startup Where AI Helps You Cheat… and Pays Engineers $1M a Year

[kevin1]

So… imagine you're in a job interview, and a magical AI whispers the perfect answers in your ear in real time — without the other side knowing. No, this isn’t an episode of Black Mirror, it’s Cluely — a San Francisco-based startup that’s taking “AI assistant” to a whole new level.

🧠 Cluely originally marketed itself as an AI tool for interviews and meetings — suggesting live, on-screen prompts via an invisible browser overlay. But after getting a bit of side-eye for essentially helping people cheat, the startup now rebrands itself more innocently:
"A note-taking AI service."
With the slogan: "Yes, it feels like cheating."
16 Engineers, 1 Tesla Garage, and a Whole Lot of Hustle

The company operates out of a three-story house with six bedrooms and one garage (complete with a Tesla, obviously). Sixteen staff — many of them college dropouts — live and work together, six days a week, 12 hours a day.

In the dining room (which doubles as the office), a huge screen constantly shows the company’s daily revenue. CEO Roy Lee says Cluely is “profitable... sometimes,” but their annual revenue is nearing $7 million. Not bad for a bunch of caffeine-fueled Zoom whisperers.
Roy Lee Doesn’t Pay Himself (Much), But Engineers Get $1M Salaries

Lee says startups should not short-change employees while hyping up “changing the world.” Instead, Cluely goes elite:

Engineers make $1M/year

Designers: $250K–$350K

For context, entry-level engineers in SF typically make ~$75K, and senior designers might see ~$150K. So yeah… Cluely isn’t playing small ball.

Roy himself? He claims to draw the “minimum wage” — Musk-style — as his contribution to “human advancement.” He also scans job applications in 2 seconds flat, rejecting anyone with the slightest “mismatch.” Brutal.
Social Media Growth Hackers, Viral Obsessions, and Paid Dates?

To fuel its growth, Cluely works with:

60 content creators

700 video editors

Why so many? According to Roy: “Engineers are too nerdy to show their faces on camera.”

Oh, and if you work there? Expect:

Gym sessions 🏋️

Monday dinners by a chef 🍽️

Weekend BBQs 🍔

Paid premium Hinge subscriptions 🥂

Reimbursed date nights ❤️

Yes, Cluely encourages dating. Romance-as-a-benefit? Silicon Valley’s final form?
🧬 What’s Next: Brain Chips and Superhumans

Marketing Director Katie Xu (1 of 2 women in the company) describes the culture as “protein bro vibes.” Meanwhile, Roy says he’s building a tight-knit “hunter-gatherer” style tribe.

His dream? Implantable AI brain chips to make humans superintelligent. Because of course it is.
What Do You Think?

Genius? Or gimmick?

Would you use an AI to help with meetings or interviews?

Would you work somewhere that offers dating perks… and pays you like an NBA draft pick?

Discuss below. Let’s hear your take on Cluely — the most brogrammer startup in AI town.