How can you tell an email may have been written using generative AI?

You can tell an email may have been written using generative AI by looking for these telltale signs:

  • Overly polished or generic language that lacks a natural voice or feels impersonal
  • Repetitive phrasing or structure, even if the wording slightly changes
  • Limited personalization, with few references to specific people, events, or shared context
  • Vague or surface-level details instead of concrete examples or lived experiences
  • Uniform sentence structure, with little variation in length or rhythm

That said, these indicators aren’t definitive on their own. One of the most effective ways to spot AI-generated content is to use it yourself (e.g., learning how to use AI to write an email). By learning how AI tools generate emails, you’ll develop a sharper eye for their patterns and limitations.

For a faster and more reliable check, try an AI tool like QuillBot’s AI Detector. This tool can analyze an email in seconds and get a clear estimate of whether it was likely written by AI. It’s a quick, data-driven way to support your judgment, especially when accuracy matters.

Instantly detect any text that may be AI-generated