Most cold emails get ignored. Not because the offer is bad but because the message sounds like it was written for everyone. It feels templated. It does not speak to a real problem. And it does not feel human.
AI can help you write better cold emails but only if you use it right. If you ask ChatGPT to just “write a cold email,” it will give you a paragraph with zero context and zero relevance. But if you feed it the right prompt with clear input about who you are reaching out to, what problem they are facing, and how you help, you can get an email that feels personal without writing from scratch every time.
Here is how to use AI to write cold emails that actually get replies.
Start with a problem not a pitch
A cold email should not start with who you are. It should start with what they are going through. That is what earns attention. The job of your first line is to get the second line read. So start with something that feels true for your reader right now.
You can use ChatGPT to help you brainstorm angles like this.
Prompt example: write three cold email openers for a [job title] in [industry] who is struggling with [problem]. Keep it conversational and specific. Avoid hype.
You will usually get a few good hooks you can test. You are not using AI to finish the message for you. You are using it to shortcut the ideation process.
Add context that makes it feel personal
Personalization is not just using a first name. It is showing you understand what they care about. Mention something they recently posted. Reference a stat about their market. Tie your insight to their world.
Prompt example: summarize one pain point a [job title] in [industry] is likely facing this quarter. Include a specific challenge and how it affects daily work.
Then use that insight as the body of your email. The goal is to make the reader feel like this message could only be for them. When it feels custom even if it is semi-automated, it performs better.
Keep the offer simple and low-friction
Do not ask for a fifteen-minute call in the first sentence. And do not pitch your full solution right away. Your first email should just open a conversation.
Prompt example: write a one-line call to action for a cold email that invites a quick reply without asking for a meeting.
Examples could be “Would it make sense to send a quick overview?” or “Would it help if I shared how one of our clients handled this?” These are light and easy to say yes to. That is what keeps the conversation going.
Test subject lines using emotional triggers
The subject line gets the open. So it needs to be short and emotionally relevant. You can use AI to test different tones—curious, urgent, helpful—depending on your audience.
Prompt example: write five subject lines for a cold email to [persona] struggling with [pain point]. Make one sound curious, one helpful, one urgent.
Then plug them into A/B tests. Use data to see which angle gets the most opens. AI gives you options. You decide which ones feel right for your brand.
Build follow-up emails that do not feel annoying
Most replies happen after the second or third email. But if your follow-up is just “bumping this to the top of your inbox,” you are wasting space. Use ChatGPT to build follow-up emails that actually add value.
Prompt example: write a polite follow-up to a cold email where the reader did not respond. Add a helpful insight or question to restart the conversation.
You can build a full three-step sequence this way. One email introduces the problem. One follows up with a case study or proof. One closes with a low-pressure next step. The key is to stay relevant not just persistent.
Final thoughts
Cold emails only work when they feel warm. You are writing to a real person with real priorities. If your message sounds like a template it will be ignored. But if you use AI to speed up research improve your structure and sharpen your message you can scale your outreach without losing the human touch.
ChatGPT will not write perfect copy out of the box. But it will give you a solid first draft faster than starting from scratch. It is not a replacement for thinking. It is a tool that helps you think better at speed.
And if you want help turning AI into a real lead gen system not just a writing tool reach out at Inbound Marketer. We build outbound flows that get responses not just opens.