Most AI assistants can now read PDFs and long documents. A good summary prompt turns hours of reading into minutes, but a vague prompt gives you a vague summary.
Say who the summary is for
Summarize this report for a busy executive who needs to decide
whether to renew the contract. 150 words, then list risks,
costs and deadlines with page numbers.Useful summary formats
- Key points: 5–7 bullets with the main ideas
- Decision brief: options, pros, cons and a recommendation
- Action items: who does what by when
- Q&A: the questions a reader would ask, answered
- Comparison: two documents side by side in a table
Ask follow-up questions
After the summary, dig deeper: "What does the document say about cancellation terms? Quote the exact text."
Check accuracy
- Ask for quotes and page references, then spot-check them.
- Be careful with numbers and tables, which are easy to misread.
- For legal, medical or financial documents, use summaries to orient yourself, not as professional advice.
Very long files
If a document is too long, split it into chapters, summarize each, then ask for an overall summary of the summaries.