Summarize a long document: how to do it with AI
Last checked 2026-10-15
BeginnerFully by bot ✍️ Writing & editing
Condense a report or article into key points and action items.
1. Bot automation level
Fully by bot Low-risk drafting/creative task; a quick read is enough.
2. Before you hand it to the bot
- Gather inputs: the text, file or details the bot needs.
- Access: make sure you can use the chosen bot/plan (see limits below).
- Context: tell the bot audience, purpose, constraints and examples of good output.
- Privacy check: remove personal, confidential or regulated data unless your plan/workspace is approved for it.
- Success criteria: write down what 'done' looks like (length, format, tests passing, fields filled).
3. Copy-paste prompts
Main prompt
Summarize the attached PDF in 5 bullets plus 3 action items.
Beginner-friendly
Summarize the attached PDF in 5 bullets plus 3 action items. I'm new to this: explain each step in plain words and ask me for anything you need before starting.
Check-your-work
Summarize the attached PDF in 5 bullets plus 3 action items. When you finish, list any assumptions you made, anything you're unsure about, and what I should double-check before using the result.
Free tiers that can handle this (verified): ChatGPT (incl. Work & Codex), Claude (incl. Claude Code), Google Gemini, Grok, Mistral Le Chat. Others: check plan.
4. Step-by-step
- Upload the document or paste the text.
- Say who it's for and what decisions they need to make.
- Ask for a 5-bullet summary plus action items, each with a page/section reference.
- Check the references.
- Share the summary with a link to the original.
5. Which bots and plans can do it
| Tool | What's different here | Plan limits | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| ChatGPT (incl. Work & Codex) | File uploads; limits vary by plan. | Free tier has limited deep research, Codex and Work; scheduled tasks need Go or higher (per chatgpt.com/pricing). | help.openai.com/en/articles/20001275-chatgpt-work-and-codex |
| Claude (incl. Claude Code) | Long context windows (up to 1M depending on model). | Claude Code and Research need Pro or higher; computer use is Pro/Max only (research preview). | code.claude.com/docs/en/desktop |
| Google Gemini | Large file uploads. | Free tier includes Deep Research, Canvas, Gems; video generation needs AI Plus or higher. | gemini.google/overview/deep-research/ |
| Microsoft Copilot | Works on Microsoft 365 files. | Copilot in Word/Excel/PowerPoint/Outlook needs an eligible Microsoft 365 plan. | www.microsoft.com/en-us/microsoft-copilot/for-individuals/features |
| Grok | — | Free to try; SuperGrok gives higher limits and multi-agent (price not verified). | x.ai/grok |
| Meta AI | — | Free across Meta apps; no paid tier verified. | meta.com/ai/ |
| Mistral Le Chat | — | Free tier has limited messages, searches and coding sessions; Pro raises limits. | mistral.ai/pricing |
| DeepSeek | — | Chat app limits not documented officially; API is pay-per-token. | api-docs.deepseek.com/quick_start/pricing |
Free or paid?
- ChatGPT (incl. Work & Codex): Free plan: yes. unlimited text chats; limited uploads, images, voice, deep research and Codex. Paid: price not verified, so check the official site. Its free tier can handle this task.
- Claude (incl. Claude Code): Free plan: yes. chat, web search, files & code execution, Artifacts, connectors. Claude Code and Research need Pro. Paid: the lowest price we could verify on the official pricing page is $20/month (other plans may exist). Its free tier can handle this task.
- Google Gemini: Free plan: yes. Flash-Lite model, image generation, Deep Research, Live, Canvas, Gems. Video needs AI Plus or higher. Paid: the lowest price we could verify on the official pricing page is $99.99/month (other plans may exist). Its free tier can handle this task.
- Microsoft Copilot: Free: not verified, so check the official site. Paid: the lowest price we could verify on the official pricing page is $23.5/month (other plans may exist). For this task, check the plan.
- Grok: Free plan: yes. to try; SuperGrok has higher limits (price not verified). Paid: price not verified, so check the official site. Its free tier can handle this task.
- Meta AI: Free: not verified, so check the official site. Paid: price not verified, so check the official site. For this task, check the plan.
- Mistral Le Chat: Free plan: yes. limited messages, searches, coding sessions and basic images. Paid: the lowest price we could verify on the official pricing page is $14.99/month (other plans may exist). Its free tier can handle this task.
- DeepSeek: Free: not verified, so check the official site. Paid: price not verified, so check the official site. For this task, check the plan.
6. Risks and what to double-check
- Summaries drop nuance — check key sections.
- Confidential documents need an approved tool.
- Read the output carefully; AI can be confidently wrong.
- AI can hallucinate facts — verify anything that matters.
- Don't share secrets or other people's personal data.