AI startup shocked because founder pretended to be a chatbot
Fireflies, which once spoofed AI by hand-typing notes in meetings, is now a billion-dollar unicorn.
Báo Khoa học và Đời sống•22/11/2025
Fireflies, a startup specializing in AI-based meeting notes, just reached a $1 billion valuation. CTO Sam Udotong revealed that the AI service was initially just two founders typing notes.
They attended more than 100 meetings, impersonating the bot “Fred from Fireflies.ai” to take manual notes. The note was sent just 10 minutes after the meeting, making the client believe it was AI technology.
This way they make enough money to pay the rent and then develop the real AI. The story is controversial, with many experts criticizing it for privacy violations and legal risks. Conversely, some see it as a testament to perseverance and the “fake it till you make it” spirit.
The incident raises big questions about the line between startup innovation and customer deception. Dear readers, please watch more videos : From January 1, 2026, digital products created by AI must have identification marks | Nhan Dan Newspaper
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