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Caught using ChatGPT to write email

146 replies

Jidemummu199 · 29/05/2025 11:05

I don't normally use it to write emails just to structute blog outlines. So I had ever used it to write any text until then. I heard a lot of people have been using it for emails and I was curious to give it a try. Nothing else. The thing is what I didn't know the header and footer prompt responses were visible until I had already hit send about 15 minutes later. I immediately sent an brief apology to my colleague. We are normally very close and we think very highly of each other. So now I'm now concerned that this will make them think lesser of me. I will go into the office tomorrow and I'm nervous to see them. My husband tells me not to worry it happens. But do you think I'm worrying over nothing? One thing for sure is that I won't be trying it for emails again!

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Jidemummu199 · 29/05/2025 15:47

I have apologised. I did rather swiftly to be fair. But they always take a while to respond.

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AllProperTeaIsTheft · 29/05/2025 15:49

I can't imagine needing to use AI to write an email, but equally I wouldn't care if somebody else did. I don't really understand why people are so bothered by it tbh. It's not like using it to cheat in an essay or to create artistic content and claim it's your own. It's just an email!

Jidemummu199 · 29/05/2025 15:50

Thanks so much! This makes me feel a little less anxious. We have spoken about using AI and we are both very aware that we use it. Just not normally for drafting emails.

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Jidemummu199 · 29/05/2025 15:52

The thing is I don't. I was using it to draft my blog outline and I thought why not test it for an email. But thank you for putting my mind at ease a little! Much appreciated!

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NetZeroZealot · 29/05/2025 15:53

Most professional organisations encourage their employees to use AI now, as it makes them more efficient.

nomas · 29/05/2025 15:56

Our company is pushing to use AI a lot more. You would be welcomed here.

Jidemummu199 · 29/05/2025 15:56

It's nothing bad just a little embarrassing. Something along the lines of "Sure! Here's an email template". And "Let me know if you want me to draft something more professional". So I'm cringing.

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Jidemummu199 · 29/05/2025 15:58

Thanks so much everyone! With one exception, the majority of you have put my mind at rest! I'm naturally an anxious person, so sometimes I tend to sweat the small stuff. But I will try to relax and just turn up tomorrow and act as normal.

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Jidemummu199 · 29/05/2025 16:00

I'm worried that they may think I would come across as inauthentic for using it to drafting a generic email. But perhaps I'm overreacting.

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Aria2015 · 29/05/2025 16:02

Honestly I probably think less of people who don't utilise AI to get things done quicker and easier! You've got nothing to be ashamed of. Chat gbt is a great tool that has freed up lots of time previously spent doing necessary, but time consuming tasks. I wouldn't say any more about it, but if they bring it up, I'd own it and just say that you're finding using it really useful and just laugh off including the prompt etc...

Pthagonal · 29/05/2025 16:02

Hopefully you were using your company's instance of ChatGPT, not the free one that's available to everyone. Whilst the company I work for is pushing the use of AI, we have to use our corporate one for reasons of security and client confidentiality.

I have used it to reword emails to make them more professional, especially when I want to tell someone that they're an idiot, or no, the job they want doing is not part of my remit, so if they want it done to do it themselves.

lucya66 · 29/05/2025 16:04

I wouldn’t mind this. At least it’s a colleague, not a client.

i use ai all day every day. You get better at prompts and checking it.

AnonymousBleep · 29/05/2025 16:07

I don't understand what the problem is?

Lampzade · 29/05/2025 16:07

I thought everyone used AI
I even used it to construct a joke for a birthday card

BigSkies2022 · 29/05/2025 16:08

Reframe it as trying out technology for optimising your systems for routine tasks. You can quote people like Cal Newport or James Clearly. You will emerge as a leader, unafraid of AI!

Neemie · 29/05/2025 16:10

Quite a lot of my colleagues use AI for emails. It is pretty obvious as it is very wordy, all paragraphs are the same length and there are no typos. I never think less of them but I wish they would give it a word limit or ask it to be more concise. It seems to model its style on dull, lengthy policy documents.

ExpressCheckout · 29/05/2025 16:12

Jidemummu199 · 29/05/2025 16:00

I'm worried that they may think I would come across as inauthentic for using it to drafting a generic email. But perhaps I'm overreacting.

Please don't worry. The AI companies like Microsoft are actively encouraging people to use AI for routine tasks such as e-mail. Think of it another way, you're ahead of the curve!

Jk987 · 29/05/2025 16:14

cheesycheesy · 29/05/2025 15:12

I would think less of you.

Be careful not to get stuck in a time zone. Hopefully you don’t still use a fax machine!

KidsDoBetter · 29/05/2025 16:18

Jidemummu199 · 29/05/2025 16:00

I'm worried that they may think I would come across as inauthentic for using it to drafting a generic email. But perhaps I'm overreacting.

Along with understanding ChatGPT @Jidemummu199 you might also want to check out the "quote" function on Mumsnet. That way, your responses make a lot more sense....

AlexisP90 · 29/05/2025 16:21

U53rn8m3ch8ng3 · 29/05/2025 15:46

If you're sometimes encouraged to use AI what on earth are you worrying about?

Exactly.

Jut say you were trying it out. What did they think?

RexsSoupCan · 29/05/2025 16:22

CowTown · 29/05/2025 15:07

Just tell him you wanted to try an email using AI—just to see what it could produce, and thanks for being your Guinea pig.

This - it's fine

AllProperTeaIsTheft · 29/05/2025 16:23

Lampzade · 29/05/2025 16:07

I thought everyone used AI
I even used it to construct a joke for a birthday card

I just can't imagine using it for an email though. It would take as much effort to word my instructions to Chat GPT as it would to just write the bloody email! And I seriously doubt it would be better.

Jidemummu199 · 29/05/2025 16:26

KidsDoBetter · 29/05/2025 16:18

Along with understanding ChatGPT @Jidemummu199 you might also want to check out the "quote" function on Mumsnet. That way, your responses make a lot more sense....

Oh noted. Sorry!

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may2025 · 29/05/2025 16:26

cheesycheesy · 29/05/2025 15:12

I would think less of you.

How unpleasant

Jidemummu199 · 29/05/2025 16:28

ExpressCheckout · 29/05/2025 16:12

Please don't worry. The AI companies like Microsoft are actively encouraging people to use AI for routine tasks such as e-mail. Think of it another way, you're ahead of the curve!

Thank you for your kind words😊

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