Student Creates Workaround for Big Tech Hiring Process, Columbia University Dismisses Him from Studies
In a surprising turn of events, Chungin "Roy" Lee, a former student at Columbia University, has been selling subscriptions to an AI-powered tool that helped him pass technical job interviews with tech giants like Meta, Facebook, Amazon, and TikTok. The tool, initially named Interview Coder and later rebranded as Cluely, has now become the centre of controversy.
Lee, who was a sophomore at Columbia University and was expected to graduate in 2026, used this tool to secure multiple internship offers, including from Amazon. A viral video demonstrating its use during an Amazon interview led to a complaint from the company, triggering a disciplinary hearing at the university.
During the hearing, Lee was forced to admit that his AI tool could potentially be used to help students cheat in a Columbia CS class. As a result, he was put on academic probation and his disciplinary suspension from Columbia College became effective immediately, making him eligible to return after May 20, 2026.
The documents Lee posted on social media, including correspondence from Student Conduct, case files, a photo, and a video recording of his Dean's Discipline Hearing on February 12, 2025, had a watermark overlaid on them that said "Not Distribute." Both Amazon and Columbia University declined to comment on the specific case of Roy Lee, citing the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act.
Despite his suspension, Lee defended his AI tool as a critique of outdated interview practices. He compared its assistance to modern aids like calculators or spell checkers, which were initially seen as cheating but are now widely accepted. Lee's actions have raised his profile, and his startup Cluely has generated millions in seed funding and revenue, continuously embracing its controversial stance on "cheating" in interviews, exams, and even social interactions.
The technical interview, or "Leetcode" interview, is a challenging coding test that job candidates often face, usually with an employee watching. It is designed to test a programmer's problem-solving skills and ability to write efficient code under pressure. However, the problems presented in these interviews are often not the ones the programmer will encounter on the job, making some question the validity of this method for evaluating job candidates.
Lee expressed that the entire process tested his mental strength to its absolute limit, but he is glad he did it. A week and a half later, Roy Lee was completely kicked out from Columbia College. Despite this, he continues to defend his AI tool and sell subscriptions to it through his startup, Cluely.
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