How to Ask AI for a Summary

Decide what the summary needs to do

A summary for a busy coworker is different from a summary you are using to study. Tell AI whether you need a quick overview, key decisions, next steps, or plain-language wording.

That one sentence helps AI choose what to keep instead of reducing the text in a random way.

• Three key takeaways.
• A short briefing for a coworker.
• A list of next actions.
• A plain-language version for a beginner.

Keep the original nearby when details matter

AI can make a summary easier to read, but it can miss a condition, date, or exception. That matters if the original contains instructions, policies, deadlines, or anything with consequences.

Use the summary to orient yourself, then open the original again for the details you need to act on.

• Check deadlines and dates.
• Check who is responsible for each action.
• Check exceptions and limits.

Copy this summary prompt

Specify the reader and the result you need from the summary.

• Summarize this for [reader]. Give me [number] bullet points, put the most important point first, and list any deadlines or actions separately: [paste text].

Common mistake: pasting sensitive information

A summary does not require every private detail. Remove passwords, account numbers, medical records, confidential work information, and anything your organization does not allow you to share.

• Share only what is necessary.
• Use placeholders for private names or numbers.
• Follow workplace or school rules.

Summarize one low-stakes note

Try this with a public article, your own non-sensitive notes, or a long email you wrote. Ask for three takeaways and compare them with the original.

• Choose safe text.
• Name the reader and format.
• Check one important detail in the original.