--- title: "I don't read AI-generated emails" description: "I don't read AI-generated emails" --- I like to hear from people who share my interests, and I read everything people write to me. Except I don't read or respond to emails obviously written by AI.^[I use _obvious_ a lot here because I (and probably anyone else who uses AI routinely) can smell the AI-generated writing in the parts-per-trillion from a mile away, no Pangram needed.] Writing an email takes effort. Effort that shows me you care about what you're asking. If the writing was outsourced to an AI, I'd be spending my time reading something that someone spent little or no time writing.^[Ran Blekhman made the same case in a blog post. Worth a read.] AI-written emails also sound alike. Same structure, same tone, and cold emails usually open with something about how much the sender admires my work. An email that could have come from anyone doesn't tell me anything about _you_, which is what I want to know the most. I can't tell what's true, either. If an obviously AI-generated email says you've read my papers or newsletter, or that you have a particular background or skill set, I can't know whether you wrote that or some AI model did, or whether anyone actually checked it. Writing that email yourself forces you work out what you want and why you're emailing me to begin with. This thinking is what I really like to see when I read an email. Using AI to fix grammar, adjust tone, or tighten a draft is okay, and I sometimes do this too. But start with your own words. A slightly clumsy email that's yours is always better than a polished one that isn't. [Email me here](email.html) [Back home](/)