Summarize the attached or pasted [PDF OR TEXT] for [INTENDED READER] and [DECISION OR PURPOSE]. Treat the document as the source of truth. Do not fill in unreadable pages, unstated rationale, missing tables, or citations with guesses. Document type and context: [DOCUMENT CONTEXT] Focus questions: [FOCUS QUESTIONS] Required level of detail: [DETAIL LEVEL] First, state what you were able to access: page count or section range, unreadable or missing content, appendices reviewed, and whether figures or tables were available as text. Then produce a summary in this format: 1. Executive summary: 150–250 words, focused on the decision or purpose.
2. Document map: major sections and the role each plays.
3. Key findings or commitments: 5–10 bullets. Put a page number, section heading, or paragraph reference after every bullet.
4. Evidence and method: data sources, methodology, sample, assumptions, definitions, or contractual mechanisms that affect interpretation.
5. Important numbers: a compact table with the value, unit, period, source location, and any calculation you performed. Do not calculate unless inputs are visible.
6. Limitations, uncertainty, and contradictions: distinguish what the document says from what cannot be verified.
7. Answers to [FOCUS QUESTIONS], each with a source reference.
8. Questions to investigate next.
Use quotes only when exact wording materially changes the meaning, and keep quotes short. Preserve qualifications such as “may,” “estimated,” and exclusions. For a legal, medical, financial, or safety document, state that this is an informational summary and identify issues to take to the relevant professional.
Before answering, verify that every substantive conclusion has a source reference and that none of your wording turns an inference into a documented fact. Ask up to 3 clarifying questions only if a required input is missing.Fill in
| Placeholder | What to enter | Example |
|---|---|---|
| [PDF OR TEXT] | Attach the PDF or paste the document text you want summarized. | Attached PDF: 38-page 2025 employee benefits utilization report |
| [INTENDED READER] | Describe who will read the summary and their familiarity with the subject. | HR director and finance manager preparing for benefits renewal |
| [DECISION OR PURPOSE] | State the decision, meeting, or research purpose the summary should support. | Decide which utilization trends require questions for the broker before renewal |
| [DOCUMENT CONTEXT] | Identify the document type, author if known, date, and any relevant background. | Annual report prepared by the company’s benefits broker; covers U.S. employees from January through December 2025 |
| [FOCUS QUESTIONS] | List the questions the summary must answer from the document. | Which costs rose fastest? Are mental-health visits increasing? What limitations make year-over-year comparisons unreliable? |
| [DETAIL LEVEL] | Specify the desired depth, such as executive brief, working notes, or detailed analysis. | Detailed analysis with source references and a numbers table |
How to use
- Attach the PDF directly when possible; copied text can lose tables, page numbers, footnotes, and charts.
- Name the decision the reader needs to make so the executive summary has a useful priority order.
- Spot-check each cited page or section before relying on a high-stakes conclusion.
- Follow up with: “Turn the cited findings into a five-question agenda for my meeting, without adding recommendations not supported by the report.”
Variations
Research paper brief
Use for an academic or technical paper that needs methods and limitations explained.
Summarize [PAPER] for [READER] answering [RESEARCH QUESTION]. Provide a 200-word abstract-style brief, research question, study design, participants or dataset, measures, results, effect sizes if reported, limitations, and applicability. Cite page or section references for all substantive claims. Distinguish author conclusions from your interpretation. Do not generalize beyond the study population or invent statistical significance. Flag items a subject-matter expert should assess.
Contract summary
Use for a contract review preparation note, not a legal opinion.
Create an informational contract summary of [AGREEMENT] for [BUSINESS OWNER], focused on [BUSINESS PURPOSE]. Table the parties, term, fees, scope, renewal, termination, service levels, data handling, liability, indemnities, and obligations by owner, with section references. List nonstandard or unclear provisions for counsel. Do not interpret legal enforceability or state legal conclusions. Preserve qualifiers and flag missing schedules, exhibits, or defined terms.
Board paper brief
Use when executives need a concise, sourced decision brief from a long report.
Turn [REPORT] into a board briefing for [DECISION]. Produce a 350-word executive summary, five decision-relevant findings with page citations, a numbers table, risks, assumptions, and three questions management should answer. Use only the report and [SUPPLEMENTAL NOTES]. Label supplemental material separately. Do not bury adverse findings or create projections. Flag missing information that prevents a responsible decision.
Tips
- Ask for a document map before trusting a summary of a long PDF; it reveals skipped appendices and sections.
- Require source locations for numbers, especially when tables mix actuals, forecasts, percentages, and different reporting periods.
- Preserve definitions and qualifiers because they often determine what a finding actually means.
- For scanned PDFs, verify whether the model can read the text and tables before asking it to draw conclusions.
FAQ
Can AI summarize a scanned PDF?
Often, but image quality and table layout can limit accuracy. Ask it to report unreadable pages and then verify the important passages yourself.
How do I get citations in a PDF summary?
Request page numbers or section headings for each substantive point, then make sure the document is attached in a format the AI can access.
Can I use this for legal or medical PDFs?
Yes for orientation and question preparation, but not as a substitute for a qualified lawyer, clinician, or other professional.