Columbia Suspends AI Startup Founder for Social Media Post, Unrelated to Tech Tool

Columbia University Suspends AI Startup Founder for Sharing Disciplinary Hearing Content

Columbia University has suspended Chungin “Roy” Lee, the founder of an AI startup, for one year. The suspension, however, is not related to Lee’s AI tool but rather for sharing content from a disciplinary hearing on social media.

Lee, who created Interview Coder, an AI tool designed to assist job candidates in technical interviews, violated university policies by posting a recording and a photo from the hearing online. Columbia’s student conduct office cited “publishing unauthorized documents” as the reason for the suspension.

The university declined to comment on the specific case. However, disciplinary documents revealed that Lee was initially reported for creating the AI tool and sharing videos demonstrating its use.

Interview Coder, which is sold for $60 a month with projected annual revenue of $2 million, raised concerns about potential academic dishonesty. Lee and his partner maintain that they ensured the tool couldn’t be used for in-class cheating, based on their interpretation of the academic handbook.

The disciplinary process began when Lee was reported for the tool’s creation and usage demonstration. He attended a hearing in February, expecting a minor resolution. Prior to the hearing’s outcome, Lee filed for a leave of absence, expressing doubts about completing his studies.

Before the suspension, Lee was placed on probation for facilitating academic dishonesty. He expressed surprise at the final decision, sharing his thoughts on LinkedIn. Despite the suspension, Lee plans to move forward with his original intention of relocating to San Francisco.

This case highlights the ongoing challenges universities face in balancing innovation and academic integrity in the rapidly evolving landscape of artificial intelligence.