Use ChatGPT to summarize long documents

Updated August 2nd, 2024.

Suppose you had a lot of reading to do, but not enough time to do it. Or, suppose you had a lot of reading to do, and you’d like a bit of an introduction to it, so you know what to expect. Either way, ChatGPT can help you. Here’s how:

Screenshot: Asking ChatGPT if it can summarize a chapter from a textbook
Asking ChatGPT if it can summarize a chapter from a textbook
Screenshot: Uploading a PDF to ChatGPT
Uploading a PDF to ChatGPT

You can upload a PDF to ChatGPT in multiple ways. If you click the paper clip icon at the bottom left of the ChatGPT window you can add files from OneDrive or Google Drive or upload a file from your own machine. You can also simply drag a PDF into the ChatGPT window, anywhere in the window at all.

Screenshot: Giving ChatGPT instructions regarding the summarizing I want it to do
Giving ChatGPT instructions regarding the summarizing I want it to do

This might take a minute or so but it’s worth the wait!

Screenshot: Success! The summary has been created.
Success! The summary has been created.

Here’s how the Word document looked:

Screenshot: Summarized text, as a Word document
Summarized text, as a Word document

Of course you don’t have to save it as a Word document. ChatGPT would present the answers right there for you, in the ChatGPT window, if that’s how you want it. The Word document is more pleasing to the eye thanks to the colors etc. so that’s why I’d ask for a Word document if I were you.


More ChatGPT tutorials by Christian Boyce

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Christian Boyce

Christian Boyce is a Mac and iPhone expert with over 30 years' experience in the field. His specialty is teaching people how to get more out of their Macs and iPhones using the software and apps already installed. He is the author of several books, a guest speaker for Mac and iPhone user groups worldwide, and a former rocket scientist. He splits time between homes in Santa Monica, California and Round Rock, Texas.

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