Abstract

As a principal investigator in a research laboratory that specializes in advanced therapies, I am routinely asked to write recommendation letters for my students, colleagues and associates. I’m also often on the receiving end of such letters from candidates applying for job openings in our group. Over the past year, I have noticed an interesting but concerning development: many of these letters are seemingly being produced not by hand, but by using artificial intelligence (AI) tools such as ChatGPT. Such chatbots are undeniably remarkable. They can automatically generate letters of reference by drawing on data and patterns to create coherent and grammatically correct compositions. Researchers with limited time, or for whom English is not their first language, can use such aids to make the process of drafting more manageable, ensuring that recommendations are effectively communicated.