Cluely Raises $15M Series A to ‘Cheat’ Interview

✨TodayOnAI’s Daily Drop

• Cluely Raises $15M Series A to ‘Cheat’ Interview

• Why LinkedIn Users Are Shying Away From AI-Generated Posts

• Apple Is Using Generative AI to Design Its Next-Gen Chips

• 💬 Let’s Fix This Prompt

• 🧰 Today’s AI Toolbox Pick

Cluely AI

Cluely Raises $15M Series A to ‘Cheat’ Interview

🚀 TodayOnAI Insight: Cluely, a controversial AI startup that helps users “cheat” on job interviews, exams, and sales calls, raised a $15 million Series A led by Andreessen Horowitz—marking a rapid ascent in valuation and sparking debate about AI-powered ethics in professional settings.

🔍 Key Takeaways:

• Cluely secured $15 million in Series A funding—two months after a $5.3 million seed round led by Abstract Ventures and Susa Ventures.

• Two unnamed investors peg its post-money valuation at approximately $120 million; Andreessen Horowitz declined to confirm.

• Co‑founded earlier this year by 21‑year‑old Roy Lee and Neel Shanmugam—formerly suspended from Columbia University for creating “Interview Coder,” an AI tool to facilitate cheating on technical interviews.

• The startup reportedly turned profitable early; Lee amplifies brand visibility via provocative, high-production videos and a bold social media persona.

• Promotional activities included a controversial launch video and a recently shut down after-party for AI Startup School due to a 2,000‑person turnout.

💡 Why This Stands Out: Cluely pushes AI ethics into the spotlight by monetizing deception, raising urgent questions about responsible innovation. Its rapid funding and viral marketing reflect both investor appetite for edgy AI tools and society’s ambivalence toward AI-driven shortcuts. Does this signal a broader trend or a flashing red line?

LinkedIn

Why LinkedIn Users Are Shying Away From AI-Generated Posts

🚀 TodayOnAI Insight: Despite LinkedIn’s deep AI integration, CEO Ryan Roslansky says its AI post-writing assistant hasn’t gained traction—suggesting professionals remain wary of over-automating personal branding on a platform tied to their career identities.

🔍 Key Takeaways:

• LinkedIn’s AI writing tool for polishing posts is underused, per CEO Ryan Roslansky.

• Users are hesitant due to LinkedIn’s role as a professional résumé, where authenticity is high-stakes.

• Public backlash from AI-generated content on LinkedIn can impact job prospects more than on casual platforms.

• Meanwhile, demand for AI talent is surging: jobs requiring AI skills have grown 6x, and user-added AI skills are up 20x year-over-year.

• Roslansky uses Microsoft’s Copilot tool personally to fine-tune emails to CEO Satya Nadella.

💡 Why This Stands Out: This disconnect underscores a growing tension: professionals are eager to learn AI but cautious about using it visibly. On platforms like LinkedIn, where personal credibility is currency, even helpful AI tools may be seen as reputational risks. Will future tools adapt to these unspoken norms?

Apple

Apple Is Using Generative AI to Design Its Next-Gen Chips

🚀 TodayOnAI Insight: Apple is integrating generative AI into its chip design process, signaling a major shift in how the company approaches hardware innovation. By leveraging AI, Apple aims to streamline development, boost efficiency, and tighten control over the hardware-software stack—especially as it ramps up infrastructure for AI services.

🔍 Key Takeaways:

• Apple hardware chief Johny Srouji confirmed the company is using generative AI to speed up chip design and manage growing complexity.

• Apple relies heavily on EDA tools from Synopsys and Cadence, both of which are integrating more AI into their platforms.

• The company is developing its own AI server chip, codenamed “Baltra,” to support backend infrastructure for its Apple Intelligence features.

• This chip will power Apple’s Private Cloud Compute, balancing on-device AI processing with secure, server-based workloads.

• Apple’s design philosophy remains high-risk, high-reward—echoed in its all-in approach to both Apple Silicon and now AI-driven chip development.

💡 Why This Stands Out: Apple’s move reflects a broader trend: top-tier tech companies are internalizing more of the AI hardware pipeline to gain speed, security, and strategic autonomy. The use of generative AI in chip design isn’t just about faster workflows—it marks a deeper convergence of software intelligence and semiconductor innovation. Could AI-designed chips be the new edge in platform control?

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🧰 Today’s AI Toolbox Pick

• 💪Tulsk (Career Tool): Transforms project management to unite teams for success.

• 🏆Knowlee (Chatbot Tool): A tailored agent who extracts insights, creates content, and amplifies your potential.

• ⏳TableFlow (Marketing Tool): An open-source CSV importer to onboard customer data faster.