In the fast-paced world of consumer AI tools, few products have sparked as much controversy — and rapid success — as Cluely, the "cheating" desktop assistant that provides real-time notes, prompts, and insights during calls or meetings.
Launched in early 2025 by founder Roy Lee (also known as Chungin Li), Cluely's provocative marketing — positioning it as a way to "cheat on everything" — went viral, landing $15 million in funding from heavyweights like Andreessen Horowitz (a16z), Abstract Ventures, and Susa Ventures, at a $120 million valuation just months after debut.
The enterprise version, released in mid-2025, supercharged growth: annualized recurring revenue (ARR) reportedly doubled from $3 million to $7 million in a single week, driven by demand for real-time transcription and note-taking in professional settings.
But Cluely's closed-source, paid model ($20/month for full features) drew swift competition. Enter Pickle, a Y Combinator-backed startup, which on July 3, 2025, announced Glass — a free, open-source alternative built in just 4 days.
Founder Daniel Park (@danifesto) positioned it as superior: sharper UI, no paywalls (bring your own API key or use theirs), and full trust via open code, especially important for tools capturing screen and audio.
Glass exploded: over 3,300 stars and hundreds of forks on GitHub within days, with viral demos showcasing seamless real-time assistance.
The triumph was short-lived. On July 4, 2025, developer Soham (@soham_btw) publicly accused Pickle of stealing code from his GPLv3-licensed project Cheating Daddy — a similar open-source AI desktop tool. Side-by-side comparisons showed near-identical code, comments, and even library versions, but Glass was initially released under the incompatible Apache 2.0 license, violating GPLv3 terms.
Soham called it out bluntly: "you yoinked a gpl-v3 code, slapped an apache license on it, and called it a startup." The thread garnered massive attention, tagging Y Combinator's Garry Tan.
Park quickly responded, admitting the oversight ("Since this was our first OSS project, we didn’t realize at first"), revising the license, and thanking Soham for the contribution. Drama ensued, with community debates on open-source ethics versus startup velocity.
This saga encapsulates 2025's AI gold rush: provocative products boom via hype, open-source clones challenge incumbents overnight, but shortcuts risk backlash. Cluely thrives on proprietary edges and enterprise sales; Pickle bets on community and altruism ("building a living digital clone for everyone"). Yet the incident highlights how "velocity" can veer into ethical gray zones.
In a space where tools literally help users "cheat" conversations, the real cheating allegations add ironic spice. As one commenter quipped: "Cheating the cheaters." For now, both projects persist — Glass refined and properly licensed — but the episode serves as a cautionary tale: in open-source AI, credit (and licenses) matter as much as code.
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Author: Slava Vasipenok
Founder and CEO of QUASA (quasa.io) - Daily insights on Web3, AI, Crypto, and Freelance. Stay updated on finance, technology trends, and creator tools - with sources and real value.
Innovative entrepreneur with over 20 years of experience in IT, fintech, and blockchain. Specializes in decentralized solutions for freelancing, helping to overcome the barriers of traditional finance, especially in developing regions.
