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Hey there,
Welcome back to AI, Eh? and a warm hello to anyone reading for the first time. Really glad you are here.
Here is a quick look at where we have been so far:
This week we are talking about email.
Not newsletters or marketing campaigns. Just the everyday stuff. The message to your landlord about a repair that still has not been fixed. The follow-up to a contractor who gave you a quote and vanished. The note to your kid's teacher that you have rewritten three times and still do not love. The complaint to a company that charged you something they should not have.
Most of us write more emails than we realize, and most of us spend way more time on them than we need to. AI is genuinely excellent at this. Here is how to use it.
Five types of emails AI can help you write right now
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1. The awkward follow-up
You sent a message and heard nothing back. Could be a landlord who promised to fix the leaky faucet two weeks ago. Could be a contractor who gave you a quote and disappeared. Could be a company you filed a complaint with and never got a response. You do not want to seem difficult, but you need an answer.
This is one of the most common emails people dread writing, and AI handles it really well. Give it the context and the tone you want, and it will hand you something that is firm without being aggressive.
Fill in the blank prompt:
| "I sent a [EMAIL / MESSAGE / REQUEST] to [LANDLORD / COMPANY / CONTRACTOR] about [BRIEF DESCRIPTION] roughly [TIMEFRAME] ago and have not heard back. Write me a short, polite follow-up that makes it clear I still need a response, without sounding rude or aggressive." |
Ready to use example:
| "I sent an email to my property management company in Ottawa about a broken baseboard heater in my bedroom about three weeks ago and have not heard back. It is getting cold. Write me a short, polite follow-up that makes it clear I still need a response, without sounding rude or aggressive." |
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2. The complaint that actually gets results
You got a bill with a charge you do not recognize. A service was not delivered as promised. An insurance company denied something you expected to be covered. You are frustrated, which is completely fair, but a vague or emotional email rarely gets you anywhere.
A complaint that is clear, specific, and professional gets taken more seriously and gets results faster. Tell AI what happened, what you want done, and it will give you something worth sending.
Fill in the blank prompt:
| "Write a clear, professional complaint email to [COMPANY / ORGANIZATION]. Here is what happened: [BRIEF DESCRIPTION]. What I want is [REFUND / EXPLANATION / CORRECTION / CALLBACK]. Keep it firm but respectful and make it clear what I am asking for." |
Ready to use example:
| "Write a clear, professional complaint email to my internet provider. I was charged a $75 early cancellation fee even though I cancelled because I moved and there was no service available at my new address in Sudbury. What I want is a full refund of that fee. Keep it firm but respectful and make it clear what I am asking for." |
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3. The sensitive personal email
Some emails are hard to write because the stakes feel personal. Reaching out to a family member after a falling out. Writing to your kid's teacher about something that is bothering you. Asking a friend to repay money they owe you. These situations are uncomfortable, and starting from a blank page makes them worse.
AI helps you find the right words when emotions are running high. You are still the one deciding what to say. AI just helps you say it in a way that comes across the way you actually mean it.
Fill in the blank prompt:
| "Help me write a [SENSITIVE / HONEST / CAREFUL] email to [WHO IT IS TO]. Here is the situation: [BRIEF DESCRIPTION]. I want to come across as [CALM / CARING / DIRECT / FIRM] without sounding [ANGRY / ACCUSATORY / COLD]. Keep it genuine and not too long." |
Ready to use example:
| "Help me write a sensitive email to my son's Grade 4 teacher in Calgary. My son has been coming home upset about how a situation in the classroom was handled and I want to bring it up without it turning into a confrontation. I want to come across as caring and collaborative, not accusatory. Keep it genuine and not too long." |
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4. The overdue invoice reminder (for business owners and freelancers)
If you run any kind of small business or do any freelance work, chasing payment is part of the job and almost everyone hates it. A late invoice reminder does not have to feel like a confrontation. It can be warm, clear, and professional all at once.
Tell AI how overdue the invoice is, what your relationship with the client is like, and how firm you want to be. It will calibrate accordingly.
Fill in the blank prompt:
| "Write me a [FIRST / SECOND / FINAL] overdue invoice reminder for a client who is [NUMBER] days past due on [AMOUNT OWING]. We have a [GOOD / OKAY / DIFFICULT] relationship. Tone should be [WARM AND UNDERSTANDING / FIRM BUT PROFESSIONAL / VERY DIRECT]. Include a clear call to action." |
Ready to use example:
| "Write me a first overdue invoice reminder for a client who is 21 days past due on $1,400. We have a good relationship and I want to keep it that way. Tone should be warm and understanding but make it clear I do need payment. Include a clear call to action." |
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5. The "I need to say no" email
Turning someone down gracefully is a skill most of us were never really taught. Whether it is declining a family commitment you cannot take on right now, saying no to a volunteer request at your kid's school, or turning down a project that is not the right fit, a well-written "no" keeps the relationship intact.
AI takes the personal awkwardness out of it. You tell it the situation and the tone, and it hands you something you can send without second-guessing yourself for an hour.
Fill in the blank prompt:
| "Write a polite but clear email declining [REQUEST / INVITATION / OPPORTUNITY]. The reason is [BRIEF HONEST REASON]. I want to be kind, leave the relationship on good terms, and not over-explain or apologize excessively. Keep it short." |
Ready to use example:
| "Write a polite but clear email declining an invitation to join the parent council at my daughter's school in Vancouver. The reason is that I am stretched too thin right now and cannot commit the time it deserves. I want to be kind, leave the door open for the future, and not over-explain or apologize excessively. Keep it short." |
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One important thing to remember
AI will give you a very solid first draft. But you need to read it before you send it.
Does it sound like you? Does it match your relationship with this person? Are there any details that are slightly off because AI did not have the full picture? These are things only you can catch.
Think of AI as the person who writes the first version so you do not have to start from a blank page. You are still the one who decides what goes out under your name.
Your challenge this week
Find one email sitting in your drafts or on your mental to-do list that you have been putting off. Run it through one of the prompts above. Send it today. I think you will be surprised how much easier it feels when you are editing instead of writing from scratch.
Coming up next week
Issue 7 is all about online reviews. Specifically, how to use AI to respond to customer reviews, whether they are glowing, mixed, or just plain unfair. If you have ever stared at a negative Google review and had no idea what to say, that one is for you.
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AI assisted, Human led.
Whatever AI produces for you, always read it, verify it, and make it sound like you. AI is an incredible first draft machine. Your judgment, your voice, and your values are always the final layer.
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As always, I read every reply personally. Is there a specific type of email you have been struggling to write? Hit reply and let me know. I might turn it into a future issue.
If you found this useful, feel free to forward it to a friend or family member who spends too much time staring at a blank draft. The more Canadians who feel confident with this stuff, the better.
Talk soon,
Chris
Founder, AI, Eh?
theaieh.ca 🍁
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