If you want the TL;DR answer, it's no. Creative industry employers are savvy to it, and they don't like it. Read on to find out why.
Getting ChatGPT or another AI tool to whip up a cover letter sounds like a great way to achieve a polished piece of writing in next to no time, right? But while you may end up with a letter that looks like it ticks all the right boxes, it could also be a shortcut to your application ending up on the rejection pile.
Reasons to avoid AI for cover letters
This all comes down to what creative industry employers are looking for when they ask you to write a cover letter, or any kind of personal statement or answer in an application form. They'll already have the basic information about your career history and achievements from your CV or the info you've painstakingly entered into an application form, so the cover letter is about providing insight into who you are and why you'd be a great fit for the role and their organisation. If the job description asks for excellent communication or writing skills, it's your chance to show these skills. If it asks for a passion for a specific subject – whether it's books, publishing, theatre or something else – it's your chance to show that passion.
A good cover letter shows your personality, conveys your passions and demonstrates your writing and communication skills. Even the best AI can’t do these things – only you can.
A cover letter that's generated by AI might hit lots of keywords and it may well sound impressive when you give it a quick read through – but to the recruiter who receives it, it's likely to feel generic and lacking in personality. Since you didn't write it yourself, it won't convey a sense of who you are. Writing generated by AI can leave the reader with an uncanny valley feeling – the sense that something's not quite right... and a definite red flag for recruiters.
More employers are asking applicants not to use AI
If you're still tempted to go down the AI route, it's worth knowing that we're seeing an increasing number of employers explicitly asking people not to use AI in cover letters and application forms. See below for examples of what employers have said in recent job ads (we've grabbed these from jobs posted from November 2024 to February 2025).
Some employers could be using software to screen for suspected use of AI, while others will be relying on the instincts of human readers to weed out applications that they think have relied too heavily on AI.
Our recommendations
Our strong recommendation is to avoid AI when writing your cover letter – employers are savvy to the fact that people are doing this; they can pickup on the telltale signs of AI-generated content; and are increasingly likely to reject an application that they think has been created with the help of AI.
If you want to learn more about how to write a high-impact cover letter that feels authentic to you, we recommend spending some time learning about writing style and how to make sure your writing feels authentic to you. Our Get Your Cover Letter Sorted course takes a deep dive into what employers want to see, and talks a lot writing style and personality – with practical examples of the difference this makes.
And if you do still choose to use AI to help with a cover letter, we recommend allowing plenty of time to inject your own style and personality back into the writing before you submit it.
Read examples of what employers are saying about
using AI to write cover letters
At ITV, we appreciate the use of technology for research during the application process. We understand that AI tools, including ChatGPT, can be valuable resources. However, we value authenticity and expect applicants to showcase their own thoughts and experiences. Applications that appear to be directly copied from AI-generated content may be subject to rejection. We believe in a fair and authentic assessment process, and your individuality is key to standing out in our selection.
When applying please do not rely solely on ChatGPT/AI software for your answers as it may not fully reflect your skills and experience and how they align with this role and we may decide to discount your answer if we believe it is solely generated by AI.
We understand the benefits of AI ... However, we want to know about the real you, so please ensure your cover letter and application questions are your own thoughts and tell us about you personally.
We scan all applications for use of AI. Applications found to have used AI in their answers will be rejected, so please do not use AI in any part of the application process
We ask that candidates refrain from using AI (excluding spellcheck and grammar correcting tools) when completing their application. Twofour retains the right to omit from the shortlisting process any application which they believe has not been fully originated by the candidate
Applications are screened for AI. We reserve the right to automatically reject any application that presents as substantially AI-generated.
Please do not use artificial intelligence tools to assist you to complete the application form. We may not accept applications that have been completed utilising AI tools. If you would usually use tools such as these to assist you in filling in a form, please contact [us] to discuss this further and understand other options.
This role requires authenticity and creativity. Applications with cover letters that over-rely on AI-generated content may not be considered. Show us your unique voice and insights – we can't wait to hear your story!
While we understand that AI can be a useful tool, it is essential that users of AI are aware of its limitations. We expect candidates to be able to demonstrate original thought in showcasing the relevance of their individual experiences in their application and during interviews.