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How to summarize a long document

A long report, article, email thread or set of meeting notes can take a lot of reading. An AI assistant can give you a short version first, so you can decide what deserves a closer look. Here is a simple way to do it.

Step 1: Copy the text

Open the document and copy the part you want summarized. Paste it into the chat box in Advocate (the chat accepts up to about 8,000 characters at a time, a few pages). If it is longer, paste it in sections and say so: "This is part 1 of 3. Wait for the rest before summarizing." Each message counts toward your monthly limit, so a few big sections work better than many small ones.

Step 2: Tell it what kind of summary you want

A summary is only useful if it fits your need. Say how long it should be and who it is for. "Short" is vague. "Five bullet points" is clear.

An example prompt you can copy

Summarize the text below in five short bullet points. Then list any dates, deadlines or names it mentions. Use plain English, with no jargon. Text:
[paste your text here]

Step 3: Ask a follow-up

You can keep the conversation going. Try:

If the answer is not quite right, say what to change and ask again. You don't need special wording.

A few tips

Check important details yourself

An AI summary can leave things out or get a detail wrong. Before you rely on it, look at the original for anything important, such as dates, amounts, names and instructions. Leave out Social Security, bank and card numbers when you paste text, and don't paste medical records. For a decision that matters, talk to a qualified person.

Try it

Advocate is a low-cost AI assistant that drafts, explains and plans, and keeps your chats (when you are signed in). It is free to start. Copy the prompt above, open Advocate, and paste it into the chat box. Open Advocate