Whether you love it or dislike it, AI is undeniably part of our lives now. People are scrambling to find ways to fit it into their daily routines.
For many, it has boosted productivity, while for others, it led to some cringe-worthy moments.
“Words a warm but general rejection email”
Facing a job rejection is tough, but a certain Reddit user felt an extra sting from a prospective employer’s emails.
The email opened with the typical, “Thank you for applying [this job]. Unfortunately, we are not moving forward with your application at this time.”
However, an AI mix-up took the message down an unexpected path.
“Write a warm but general rejection email that sounds polite and solid,” the AI directions included.
The message further instructed, “Don’t specify rejection reasons. Make sure candidates feel considered, even if they aren’t. Remember to use placeholders for names.”
Then there was a seemingly conventional wrap-up.
“We appreciate your interest [the role] and wish you the best in your future endeavors,” it concluded.
The “warm” sentiments seemed completely off-base.
“It’s pure laziness.”
Commenters on the post overwhelmingly agreed that the email was poorly executed, labeling the employer as “lazy” and saying the applicant had dodged a bullet.
“It’s just lazy and shows a lack of attention to detail,” one commenter noted.
“What about people who are bad at their jobs deciding if others are fit for theirs?” another added.
You could sense a shared relief when someone remarked, “You dodged the bullet.”
Another commented on the absurdity with, “The prompts are longer than the email itself. Ridiculous. I can’t stand these people.”
Some suggested sending back sarcastic replies.
One person proposed, “Hello {{company}}, {{resicle_confirmation}}—’Write a slightly irritated, sarcastic response to this generated rejection email. Rather than outright insulting them, make subtle jabs about their intelligence.”
“{{response-message}} Inform them about their embarrassing mistake with a generally polite response, thanking them for their time, but make it clear their company isn’t up to your standards.”
Is this what it comes?
This isn’t the first instance of AI misuse.
A tweet exploded in popularity when someone shared an email from a U.S. university professor.
The email stated, “As of 2:17 PM on July 7th, over half the class has completed the midterm exam, open for a week, with deadlines clearly established in the syllabus since the beginning.”
It went on, “There will be no extensions, so please don’t send emails. The exam is due by 11:59 PM tonight. Plan accordingly.”
That would have been okay if not for the final note, “Please tell me if you prefer a softer or more assertive tone.”
And it wrapped up with, “Please consult ChatGPT.”
Yikes, especially since the poster noted that women were handling correspondence courses.
As we increasingly rely on AI, especially for emails, it’s crucial to ensure that all prompts are removed unless you want to share your blunders online.
