How Proctaroo Detects “Invisible” Cheating AI During Interviews

As artificial intelligence tools become more advanced and harder to detect, a growing number of startups are building technologies to identify their misuse, particularly during remote hiring and assessments. In an April 2025 article for TechCrunch, journalist Charles Rollet highlighted how software such as Proctaroo is being utilized to catch people using AI cheating apps like Cluely.[1]

Proctaroo is leading that charge. Unlike browser-based proctoring tools, Proctaroo operates as a native desktop solution. This gives it trusted access to the system environment during interviews, enabling hidden tools like Cluely to be detected in real time. While most traditional interview software is limited, Proctaroo is not – it monitors screens, applications, and devices to detect violations others simply miss.

Remote interviews are now a standard part of hiring and admissions, but the integrity challenges that come with them continue to grow. Tools like Cluely and other "undetectable AI" assistants are being used in the background to provide candidates with real-time answers without detection. Proctaroo was built to solve all potential integrity issues, helping organizations protect the fairness of their interviews and assessments.

In a March 2025 article for CNBC, journalist Jennifer Elias reported on an engineering manager named Kirk who hosted a virtual coding challenge with over 700 applicants.[2]  After reviewing the recordings from the first round of interviews, he discovered that more than half of the candidates had cheated by using large language models to generate responses. This isn’t an isolated incident, it's a signal as to where the industry is heading. Proctaroo provides the tools to stay ahead of these concerns – saving interviewers time, money, and from potential mishires.

How Proctaroo is Different from Other Video Interview Software

Most video interview platforms rely on browser-based extensions and basic lockdowns. While those tools may block or track copy-pasting or switching tabs, they can’t detect activity happening on a second monitor, behind the scenes, or in a minimized AI assistant. If a candidate uses Cluely during a live interview, the lockdown browser won’t see it, but Proctaroo will.

Proctaroo runs as an app on the interviewee’s device, giving it full visibility into their system. It can detect unauthorized applications, flag screen privacy filters, track multi-monitor usage, and log behavioral violations in real time. Unlike tools that restrict access, Proctaroo simply captures the evidence. Better yet, it's currently the only interview solution that has been proven to detect Cluely and others live.

A Real-World Example

Imagine you're interviewing a candidate for a competitive program or job. They appear engaged and responsive. But behind the scenes, an AI assistant is feeding them answers through a hidden window or second screen by analyzing their audio and microphone input. This behavior is undetectable to most interview platforms. Proctaroo, however, picks it up instantly. It flags the unauthorized application, captures a screenshot, and logs the exact time it was used.

Transparent Reporting Built In

Every session on Proctaroo ends with a detailed report. This includes timestamps, application logs, screenshots, and a list of detected violations. Interviewers and administrators receive everything they need to make informed, fair decisions. The goal isn't to punish candidates unfairly, but to create a level playing field where everyone is held to the same standard.

Built for Both Education and Enterprise

Proctaroo is flexible enough to support both academic institutions and enterprise hiring teams. Whether you're conducting remote admissions interviews, evaluating technical candidates, or proctoring exams, Proctaroo scales with your workflow. It integrates easily with existing systems and works on both macOS and Windows. Additionally interviewers can utilize Proctaroo’s embedded Zoom app to streamline their interviewing process.

Watch Cluely Get Caught in Real Time

Here’s a live demo showing Proctaroo detecting Cluely during a mock interview. The recording highlights exactly how Cluely behaves and how Proctaroo catches it with undeniable evidence.

Sources

[1] Rollet, Charles. “Startups launch products to catch people using AI cheating app Cluely.” TechCrunch, April 29, 2025. https://techcrunch.com/2025/04/29/startups-launch-products-to-catch-people-using-ai-cheating-app-cluely/

[2] Elias, Jennifer. “Meet the 21-year-old helping coders use AI to cheat in Google and other tech job interviews.” CNBC, March 9, 2025. https://www.cnbc.com/2025/03/09/google-ai-interview-coder-cheat.html