The problem
Long reports and PDFs pile up unread. Skimming misses the one paragraph that matters.
Step by step
- Upload or paste the document into an assistant that handles files.
- Ask for a summary at the length you want, with page or section references.
- Ask what is surprising, what is missing and what you should read in full.
- Read those sections yourself.
The prompt
Summarise this document for {who you are and why you are reading}.
Give me: a 5-line summary, the key numbers, any decisions or deadlines, and the 3 sections I should read in full. Include page or section references. If something is unclear, say so instead of guessing.
Document:
{paste or upload}
Replace the {highlighted} parts with your details, or fill them in with the prompt builder.
Check before you use it
- Numbers match the document.
- References point to the right place.
Privacy
- Check your employer’s rules before uploading confidential work documents.
Do’s and don’ts
Do
- Ask for references so you can check.
- Read the important parts yourself.
- Save good summaries with the original.
Don’t
- Quote an AI summary as if you read the document.
- Upload confidential files to unapproved tools.
- Trust a summary of a scanned document without checking the numbers.
When not to use AI for this
For contracts, medical results or legal letters, read the original and ask a professional about anything important.
Tools that can help
NotebookLMGoogle’s tool for asking questions about your own documents, with answers tied to the source.
ClaudeAnthropic’s general assistant, good with long documents, writing and analysis.
Adobe Acrobat AI AssistantAsk questions about PDFs and get summaries inside Acrobat.
Readwise ReaderSave articles, PDFs and newsletters to read later, with AI summaries and Q&A.
We are not paid by any of these companies, and we list well-known options, not a ranking. Features and plans change; check the provider’s site and its data terms before you sign up. See all AI tools by category.
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