What is Cluely AI and How to Block It

Have you heard of Cluely, the new AI assistant that makes it really easy to cheat and really difficult to detect? Cluely AI is an application that sits on screen as a transparent overlay that feeds users real-time responses based on what it sees on screen and hears through audio. It can be used during exams, interviews, presentations and any other tasks you can think of and writes responses quickly enough for the user to read aloud and sound natural. Cluely’s manifesto says that they want to cheat on everything. “So, start cheating. Because when everyone does, no one is.”

Why is Cluely AI so difficult to detect? It hides activity by bypassing keyboard logging with hidden global shortcuts, masking tab activity with a transparent overlay that tricks the system into thinking the test taker never leaves the exam tab, and stays invisible during screen sharing. 

The good news is that ISU already has a tool available that makes it easy to detect and prevent the use of Cluely - Honorlock. Instructors using Honorlock can set it up to allow specific applications such as Word or Excel during exams, assignments, interviews, presentations, etc., but block all others. In addition to blocking AI like Cluely, Honorlock’s hybrid solution which combines AI with live proctoring offers several tools to detect and prevent the unauthorized use of other AI tools such as ChapGPT and Google’s homework helper. Simply put, Honorlock makes it easy to block Cluely and all other applications/websites, while allowing the ones they want based on their exam goals.

For more information:

• Honorlock article, What is Cluely & How to Block It
• TigerTracks articles on using Honorlock
• Contact the ITRC at itrc@isu.edu for assistance setting it up in your course