As ChatGPT increases in popularity, a San Francisco tech investor found a new way to use the artificial intelligence to make his life easier.
Venture capitalist Sheel Mohnot recently used the chatbot to renew his United Airlines’ upper-echelon frequent flyer program, MileagePlus Premier 1K, after he was disqualified because of an issue with receiving a Buddy Pass from a United employee.
“It came to mind that I wanted to send this letter to United, but it is one of those things where you think to yourself, ‘Meh, I don’t want to think about what to write,’” Mohnot said.
“I honestly would not have sent the letter if it wasn’t for ChatGPT.”
It isn’t the first time Mohnot has used San Francisco-based OpenAI’s tool to save time. He even used ChatGPT to write his wedding vows last year.
“I use it all the time,” he said. “I’ve used it to help write emails, customer service help or leaving reviews.”
The prompts he put into the AI machine were fairly straightforward. He told the machine to construct a letter of reinstatement for his Premier 1K membership, pointing out that although he had received the Buddy Pass from his friend as a wedding gift, he still almost hit the mileage requirements to qualify. The letter also touted his loyalty to the airline.
“I probably wrote three sentences, but it gave me a beautifully worded letter,” he said. “Although I had to do some minor editing.”
In total, ChatGPT wrote an over 300-word letter. The result? United approved the extension of his membership.
Mohnot shared the trick on X and inspired others to try it themselves.
Never hurts to ask / ChatGPT is your friend
— Sheel Mohnot (@pitdesi) January 17, 2024
I didn't qualify for 1K last year so I had ChatGPT write a letter about my loyalty to United, they extended my status by a year. pic.twitter.com/j2CzLvPlwh
“Thank you!” one user replied to Mohnot. “Now emailing 1kvoice@united.com to extend plus points that are expiring.”
United Airlines did not respond to The Standard’s request for comment on customers using chatbots to help extend memberships.
The ChatGPT life hack, Mohnot said, is something that he feels is uniquely San Francisco.
“San Francisco is clearly on the forefront of this, and it has its advantages,” he said, adding that in his travels around the country he’s seen it grow in popularity. “I think this makes us a lot more productive already.”