Anne Hathaway says she was spammed with ChatGPT-written thank you notes after hiring for a recent role: ‘Nobody on that list gets that job’

Anne Hathaway, an Oscar-winning actress, has issued a cautionary tale to those who may use ChatGPT to draft their job application thank you notes. In a recent interview, she recounted an instance where she was in the process of hiring a candidate and received numerous thank you notes from applicants. However, to her surprise, every single note was identical, having been generated by AI.

Hathaway explained that she noticed the lack of originality when the first note arrived, but when more identical notes followed, she realized something was amiss. She expressed her desire to warn others against resorting to such shortcuts, warning that the dishonesty might be revealed. Hathaway’s costar, Meryl Streep, echoed her sentiments, stating that the lack of effort in such applications would not go unnoticed by hiring managers.

With the job market being particularly challenging and the pressure to automate tasks high, the thank you note has become a contentious issue. Experts argue that it is an expectation for candidates to go beyond the traditional interview and aptitude tests, and that using AI to draft such notes is a sign of disinterest in the opportunity.

However, a simple gesture such as writing a personalized thank you note can set an applicant apart in a highly competitive environment.