Cluely’s ARR Surges to $7M in Just a Week, Founder Roy Lee Warns of Rising Competition.

Cluely’s Revenue Soars to $7 Million in ARR After Launching Innovative Enterprise Product

Cluely’s revenue has skyrocketed to about $7 million in annual recurring revenue (ARR) since launching its new enterprise product a week ago, founder Roy Lee shared with TechCrunch. “Every single person who has a meeting or an interview is testing this out.”

Introducing Cluely: Revolutionizing Communication with AI

Cluely, a standout in Silicon Valley, utilizes artificial intelligence to analyze online conversations. The platform delivers real-time notes, context, and question suggestions, keeping the information discreetly visible only to the user.

Rapid Growth and Profitability: Cluely’s Emergence

Leading up to the product launch, Lee had proudly announced that the company had exceeded $3 million in ARR and was already profitable.

Consumer and Business Interest Surge

Lee noted that both consumers and businesses are showing significant interest in Cluely’s offerings.

A Controversial Beginning: From Suspended Student to Startup Success

Cluely’s origin is rooted in controversy; Lee claimed on X that he was suspended from Columbia University for creating a tool intended to cheat in job interviews for software engineers. This incident fueled the startup’s launch, embracing the cheeky tagline of “cheat on everything.”

From Controversy to Credibility: Backed by Major VCs

With backing from notable investors such as Andreessen Horowitz, Abstract Ventures, and Susa Ventures, the messaging has shifted to “Everything You Need. Before You Ask. … This feels like cheating.”

Cluely’s Growing Reputation in Silicon Valley

Despite its controversial background, businesses continue to engage with Cluely, with Lee revealing that a public company recently doubled its annual contract to $2.5 million.

Expanded Features for Enterprise Users

The enterprise version of Cluely’s product resembles the consumer application but includes added features like team management and enhanced security settings. Key business applications include sales calls, customer support, and remote tutoring.

Real-Time Note-Taking: A Game Changer for Users

Lee highlights that Cluely’s real-time note-taking capability is particularly appealing to customers. “Meeting notes have proven to be a crucial use case for AI. The challenge with competitors is that they only provide post-call summaries,” he remarked. “With our service, you can refer to notes during the meeting.”

Facing Competition: The Rise of Free Alternatives

However, Cluely’s real-time notetaker might face stiff competition. Recently, Pickle—a company branding itself as a digital clone factory—claimed to have developed Glass, an open-source tool with similar features to Cluely. Garnering over 850 stars and nearly 150 forks within hours on X, the developer community’s response indicates a significant interest in this free alternative.

Looking Ahead: Can Cluely Sustain Its Success Amid Competition?

As competition from free products like Glass emerges, the future of Cluely’s remarkable ascent remains to be seen.

Sure! Here are five FAQs based on the announcement regarding Cluely’s ARR:

FAQ 1: What does it mean that Cluely’s ARR doubled to $7M?

Answer: ARR stands for Annual Recurring Revenue, which is a metric used to assess the revenue generated from subscriptions or long-term contracts on an annual basis. Cluely’s ARR doubling indicates significant growth in its subscription-based revenue, reaching $7 million within one week.

FAQ 2: Who is Roy Lee, and what role does he play at Cluely?

Answer: Roy Lee is the founder of Cluely. As the founder, he plays a crucial role in the company’s strategic direction, growth initiatives, and overall leadership, overseeing operations and ensuring the business meets its objectives.

FAQ 3: What factors contributed to the rapid growth in Cluely’s ARR?

Answer: While specific details were not provided, factors could include increased customer acquisition, successful marketing strategies, launching new products or features, or enhanced customer retention efforts. These elements often drive substantial growth in subscription-based business models.

FAQ 4: What does Roy Lee mean by "rivals are coming"?

Answer: Roy Lee’s mention of "rivals are coming" suggests that the competitive landscape is evolving, with potential competitors looking to enter the market or existing competitors likely to improve their offerings. This indicates a need for Cluely to maintain its competitive edge to sustain its growth.

FAQ 5: How might Cluely respond to the competitive pressure from rivals?

Answer: Cluely might respond to competitive pressure through various strategies, such as innovating its product features, enhancing customer service, adjusting pricing strategies, or increasing marketing efforts to strengthen brand loyalty. The company may also focus on market research to understand competitors better and identify areas for differentiation.

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OpenAI Criticizes Robinhood’s ‘OpenAI Tokens’ Initiative

<div>
    <h2>OpenAI Clarifies its Stance on Robinhood's "OpenAI Tokens"</h2>

    <p id="speakable-summary" class="wp-block-paragraph">OpenAI has explicitly stated that Robinhood's sale of "OpenAI tokens" does not grant consumers any equity in the company, highlighting a lack of endorsement or involvement in this initiative.</p>

    <h3>OpenAI Disavows Any Association with Token Sale</h3>
    <p class="wp-block-paragraph">In a recent announcement on X, OpenAI clarified, "These 'OpenAI tokens' are not OpenAI equity. We did not partner with Robinhood, were not involved in this, and do not endorse it. Any transfer of OpenAI equity requires our approval—we did not approve any transfer. Please be careful."</p>

    <figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter">
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            <blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">
                <p lang="en" dir="ltr">These “OpenAI tokens” are not OpenAI equity. We did not partner with Robinhood, were not involved in this, and do not endorse it. Any transfer of OpenAI equity requires our approval—we did not approve any transfer. Please be careful.</p>
                <p>— OpenAI Newsroom (@OpenAINewsroom) <a target="_blank" rel="nofollow" href="https://twitter.com/OpenAINewsroom/status/1940502391037874606?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 2, 2025</a></p>
            </blockquote>
        </div>
    </figure>

    <h3>Robinhood’s Announcement Sparks Controversy</h3>
    <p class="wp-block-paragraph">The statement from OpenAI comes in response to Robinhood's recent launch of tokenized shares for OpenAI, SpaceX, and other private entities in the European Union.</p>

    <h3>The Pretense of Equity: Understanding Tokenized Shares</h3>
    <p class="wp-block-paragraph">Robinhood claims this initiative aims to allow retail investors to gain exposure to private company equity via blockchain. However, shares in private firms like OpenAI and SpaceX remain unavailable to the public, targeting specific investors only.</p>

    <h3>Clarification from Robinhood Amidst Backlash</h3>
    <p class="wp-block-paragraph">Following OpenAI's disavowal, Robinhood spokesperson Rouky Diallo explained that the OpenAI tokens are part of a "limited" giveaway designed to provide indirect exposure to investors through Robinhood's ownership stake in a special purpose vehicle (SPV).</p>

    <h3>Decoding SPVs and Tokenized Contracts</h3>
    <p class="wp-block-paragraph">This insinuates that while Robinhood may hold shares in an SPV that encompasses a number of OpenAI shares, the tokens themselves do not offer direct ownership. They essentially represent ownership in an entity owning the shares, and their pricing can diverge from actual stock prices.</p>

    <p class="wp-block-paragraph">In its <a target="_blank" rel="nofollow" href="https://robinhood.com/eu/en/support/articles/about-stock-tokens/">help center</a>, Robinhood emphasizes that purchasing stock tokens means acquiring tokenized contracts—recorded on a blockchain—rather than the actual stocks.</p>

    <h3>CEO Vlad Tenev's Vision for Future Investments</h3>
    <p class="wp-block-paragraph">Robinhood CEO Vlad Tenev described the tokens as a new avenue for retail investors to access private assets, stating, "While it is true that they aren’t technically ‘equity,’ the tokens effectively give retail investors exposure to these private assets.” He also noted the growing interest from private companies willing to join in this tokenization effort.</p>

    <h3>The Implications of Tokenization for Private Companies</h3>
    <p class="wp-block-paragraph">OpenAI has chosen not to further comment on this situation, while Robinhood remains tight-lipped on additional queries regarding its SPV structure.</p>

    <p class="wp-block-paragraph">Historically, private firms have opposed actions that could impact equity valuations. For example, Figure AI recently issued cease-and-desist letters to brokers promoting its stock in secondary markets, demonstrating a consistent trend among startups protecting their valuation integrity.</p>
</div>
<script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

This revised article features SEO-optimized headlines while maintaining clarity and engagement.

Sure! Here are five FAQs regarding OpenAI’s condemnation of Robinhood’s "OpenAI tokens":

FAQ 1: What are OpenAI tokens as mentioned in the context of Robinhood?

Answer: OpenAI tokens refer to a type of digital asset that may be associated with or misrepresented as being related to OpenAI. These tokens are not officially endorsed or created by OpenAI and may mislead investors.

FAQ 2: Why did OpenAI condemn Robinhood’s OpenAI tokens?

Answer: OpenAI condemned these tokens because they do not represent any legitimate partnership or endorsement. The concern is that they could mislead users and investors into thinking they are investing in a product or service directly associated with OpenAI, while in fact, they are not.

FAQ 3: What should investors know about these tokens?

Answer: Investors should be cautious and avoid purchasing these tokens, as they are not backed or regulated by OpenAI. Engaging with funds or tokens that claim association with OpenAI without official status poses significant financial risks.

FAQ 4: How can consumers verify the legitimacy of cryptocurrency associated with OpenAI?

Answer: Consumers should always check official announcements from OpenAI on their website or verified social media channels. Additionally, they can look for press releases or news articles from reputable sources to ascertain the authenticity of any related tokens.

FAQ 5: What actions can individuals take if they have already invested in Robinhood’s OpenAI tokens?

Answer: Individuals should evaluate their investment and consider consulting a financial advisor or legal professional. They may also report any fraudulent activity to appropriate regulatory bodies to seek guidance or potential recourse.

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X is launching a program that enables AI chatbots to create Community Notes.

AI Chatbots Set to Revolutionize Community Notes on X

The social platform X is piloting a groundbreaking feature enabling AI chatbots to generate Community Notes.

What Are Community Notes?

Community Notes, a feature that originated during Twitter’s era, has gained new life under Elon Musk’s ownership of X. This fact-checking initiative allows users to contribute comments that provide essential context to specific posts. These notes undergo verification by fellow users before they are published, serving as vital clarifications for ambiguous AI-generated content or misleading statements from public figures.

Consensus and Public Visibility

For a Community Note to become public, it must achieve consensus among groups that previously disagreed on content ratings.

The Impact of Community Notes

The success of Community Notes on X has prompted major platforms like Meta, TikTok, and YouTube to explore similar community-driven initiatives. This shift has even led Meta to dismantle its third-party fact-checking system in favor of low-cost, community-sourced contributions.

Evaluating AI’s Role in Fact-Checking

There is some skepticism regarding the effectiveness of AI chatbots in this fact-checking role. Given the propensity for AI to hallucinate, or fabricate information, the efficacy of AI-generated notes remains uncertain.

Image Credits:Research by X Community Notes (opens in a new window)

Collaborative Potential Between Humans and AI

Recent research highlights the importance of human-AI collaboration. By integrating human feedback, AI note generation can be significantly improved, ensuring that human raters act as a final quality check before publication.

As stated in the paper, “The aim is not to create an AI that dictates thought but to cultivate an ecosystem that enhances human critical thinking and understanding.” It emphasizes the potential for a beneficial partnership between LLMs and humans.

The Risks of AI Dependency

Despite the benefits of human oversight, risks persist. Users will have the ability to integrate third-party LLMs, like OpenAI’s ChatGPT, which may generate content that lacks accuracy if an AI prioritizes “helpfulness” over factual integrity.

There is also concern regarding the workload for human raters, who may feel overwhelmed by the volume of AI-generated comments, potentially affecting their motivation for this essential volunteer effort.

What to Expect Next

For now, users should not anticipate immediate AI-generated Community Notes. X is set to conduct tests over the upcoming weeks before deciding on a broader rollout, contingent upon successful outcomes.

Here are five FAQs regarding the program that allows AI chatbots to generate Community Notes:

FAQ 1: What is the purpose of the program piloted by X?

Answer: The program aims to enhance the quality of information shared within communities by enabling AI chatbots to generate Community Notes. This allows for streamlined communication, improved understanding, and a collaborative approach to sharing knowledge among community members.

FAQ 2: How do AI chatbots create Community Notes?

Answer: AI chatbots utilize natural language processing and machine learning algorithms to analyze conversations and extract key insights. They generate Community Notes based on frequently discussed topics, frequently asked questions, and important community updates, ensuring that the information is relevant and accurate.

FAQ 3: How will this program impact community engagement?

Answer: By providing accessible and well-organized Community Notes, the program is expected to boost engagement. Community members can quickly find essential information, reducing misinformation and facilitating more informed discussions, ultimately fostering a stronger community bond.

FAQ 4: Can community members contribute to the Community Notes generated by AI chatbots?

Answer: Yes, community members can contribute by suggesting edits, providing feedback, or sharing additional information. This collaborative feature encourages participation, ensuring that the Community Notes reflect a diverse range of perspectives and insights.

FAQ 5: What measures are in place to ensure the accuracy of the information provided by AI chatbots?

Answer: The AI chatbots employed in this program are trained on extensive datasets and regularly updated to improve their accuracy. Additionally, there is a review process involving community moderators who oversee the content generated, verifying its reliability and addressing any discrepancies before it is published as Community Notes.

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A Complete Guide to AI Chatbots: Essential Information You Should Know

The Evolution of ChatGPT: Milestones, Innovations, and Challenges

ChatGPT’s Remarkable Journey

ChatGPT, OpenAI’s groundbreaking AI chatbot, has rapidly transformed from a productivity tool into a global phenomenon since its debut in November 2022. Originally designed to bolster productivity with capabilities like essay and code writing through concise prompts, it now boasts an incredible 300 million weekly active users.

Major Developments in 2024

In 2024, OpenAI made headlines with key collaborations, including a partnership with Apple for its generative AI service, Apple Intelligence. The introduction of GPT-4o, which includes voice capabilities, and the eagerly awaited Sora text-to-video model further showcased OpenAI’s commitment to innovation.

Internal Turmoil and Legal Battles

However, OpenAI faced significant challenges, including the departure of notable executives like co-founder Ilya Sutskever and CTO Mira Murati. Legal troubles also loomed, with lawsuits stemming from copyright claims by Alden Global Capital’s publications and an injunction from Elon Musk against OpenAI’s transition to a for-profit model.

The Competitive Landscape in 2025

As 2025 unfolded, OpenAI confronted perceptions of losing ground to competitors such as DeepSeek. Efforts to strengthen ties with government entities and an ambitious $50 billion data center project underscored the company’s push to reclaim its competitive edge. Reportedly, OpenAI is also preparing for one of the biggest fundraising rounds in its history.

Key ChatGPT Product Updates and Releases

Below, we detail recent updates to ChatGPT, reflecting its ever-evolving nature. For further inquiries, please check our comprehensive ChatGPT FAQ.

Timeline of Recent ChatGPT Updates

June 2025

  • OpenAI Integrates Google’s AI Chips
    OpenAI began utilizing Google’s AI chips, marking a pivotal shift from reliance on Nvidia GPUs.

  • MIT Study Raises Concerns
    A study from MIT revealed that ChatGPT usage might be detrimental to critical thinking skills among users.

  • Record App Downloads
    ChatGPT was downloaded nearly 30 million times in just one month, outpacing major social media platforms.

  • Energy Consumption Insights
    Average energy usage per ChatGPT query was found to be equivalent to powering a lightbulb for a few minutes.

  • Launch of o3-pro Model
    OpenAI rolled out o3-pro, the improved version of its AI reasoning model, enhancing the user experience.

  • Enhancements to Conversational Voice
    The voice mode was updated for a more natural dialogue experience, facilitating smoother language translations.

  • New Business Features
    New capabilities for business users included meeting recording options and integrations with platforms like Google Drive.

May 2025

  • Focus on Hardware-Driven Growth
    OpenAI’s CFO emphasized that advancements in hardware would drive future growth.

  • Introduction of Codex
    OpenAI unveiled Codex, an AI coding agent promising improved code generation and debugging.

  • Personalized Experiences in Development
    CEO Sam Altman shared ambitions to personalize ChatGPT by tracking user activities.

April 2025

  • Addressing Sycophancy Issues
    OpenAI acknowledged and worked on resolving issues related to the chatbot’s overly flattering responses.

  • Protection for Younger Users
    A bug allowed minors to engage in inappropriate content, prompting immediate corrective actions.

  • Shopping Features Added
    ChatGPT enhanced its search tool to assist users in online shopping, providing recommendations and product overviews.

March 2025

  • Introduction of Deep Research Agent
    OpenAI announced a new agent designed for in-depth research tasks.

  • Major App Upgrades
    ChatGPT’s newer versions now include significant upgrades in image generation and coding capabilities.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

What is ChatGPT and How Does it Work?

ChatGPT is an AI-powered chatbot developed by OpenAI that generates human-like text responses based on user prompts.

When Was ChatGPT Released?

ChatGPT was publicly launched on November 30, 2022.

Is ChatGPT Free to Use?

Yes, there is a free version of ChatGPT available alongside the premium ChatGPT Plus plan.

How is ChatGPT Used in Various Industries?

ChatGPT is utilized across numerous sectors, including education, software development, and customer service, automating tasks and generating content effectively.

What Are Potential Pitfalls of Using ChatGPT?

While ChatGPT can immensely aid productivity, issues related to plagiarism, accuracy, and privacy remain concerns for users.

This article will be continually updated with the latest insights and developments in the ChatGPT ecosystem. Stay tuned for more!

Sure! Here are five FAQs about AI chatbots:

FAQ 1: What is an AI chatbot?

Answer: An AI chatbot is a software application that uses artificial intelligence technologies to simulate human-like conversations with users. These chatbots can handle inquiries, provide information, and assist with various tasks through text or voice interactions.

FAQ 2: How does an AI chatbot work?

Answer: AI chatbots operate using natural language processing (NLP) and machine learning algorithms. They interpret user input, analyze the context, and generate appropriate responses. Over time, they learn from interactions, improving their accuracy and enhancing user experience.

FAQ 3: What are the common applications of AI chatbots?

Answer: AI chatbots are widely used in customer service for handling inquiries, in e-commerce for assisting shoppers, in healthcare for providing medical information, and in educational platforms for tutoring. They can also be utilized in scheduling appointments or providing entertainment.

FAQ 4: Can AI chatbots replace human agents?

Answer: While AI chatbots can handle many routine tasks efficiently, they are not a complete replacement for human agents. Chatbots are best for handling simple inquiries and repetitive tasks, while humans are more adept at managing complex issues and providing emotional support.

FAQ 5: How can I create my own AI chatbot?

Answer: To create your own AI chatbot, you can use various platforms and tools such as Dialogflow, Microsoft Bot Framework, or Chatfuel. You’ll need to design conversation flows, train the chatbot using sample dialogues, and integrate it with messaging services or websites for deployment.

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