NAPERVILLE, IL — What began as a time-saving measure in mid-February has quietly evolved into a fully automated gratitude ecosystem in which no human being has personally expressed thanks to another human being in eleven consecutive weeks, sources confirmed Monday.

Derek Hollis, 38, a project manager and self-described “efficiency maximizer,” began prompting an AI assistant to draft thank-you notes in January after falling behind on holiday correspondence. By February, recipients had begun using their own AI tools to compose warm, personalized replies. The loop, now self-sustaining, has processed 214 notes with a reported average sincerity score of 9.2 out of 10.

“The responses have been incredibly thoughtful,” Hollis said, adding that he had not personally read most of them. “Honestly, the AI writes better thank-you notes than I do. More specific. Really captures my voice.”

His mother, Carol Hollis, 67, of Downers Grove, received three AI-generated notes from Derek since Christmas and has replied to each using a tool her tablet recommended. She described the exchange as “really meaningful.”

“It remembered that I made him pot roast in 2019. I definitely didn’t remember that,” she said. “I cried a little.”

Theologians and at least one small-group leader noted the arrangement raises no new questions whatsoever, as the situation is simply a faster version of something that was already happening.

At press time, Derek’s AI had sent his wife an anniversary message she described as the most romantic thing he had ever written, prompting her to ask him about it at dinner, a conversation he has been meaning to have his AI schedule a response for.