Summarize a document
A long document boiled down to the gist, key points with page references, numbers and deadlines, and questions for the author.
What it is
Works for contracts, reports, meeting minutes, manuals and long emails. The model gives the page or section for every point so you can check it against the original quickly, and writes "not in the document" instead of making things up. Even after a summary, read a contract or financial document in full or show it to a professional, such as an attorney or an accountant. Remove other people's personal information, like names, Social Security numbers and account numbers, before you upload a document.
- Documents
- Summaries
- Saves time
Text to copy
Summarize the attached document [or: the text below]. I need it to [why: make a decision / prepare for a meeting / understand what I'm signing / brief my team]. Who I am: [my role]. Time I have to read the summary: [for example: 2 minutes]. Format: 1. The gist in 3 sentences: what the document is about and the main takeaway. 2. Five to seven key points. For each, give the page number or section it came from. 3. Numbers, dates, amounts, deadlines and obligations as a separate list, as written in the document, with no rounding. 4. What affects me personally: [my duties / risks / what's expected of me / what I get]. 5. What in the document is unclear, contradictory, or missing even though it should be there. 6. Three questions worth asking the author of the document. Rules: summarize only what's in the document. If something isn't there, write "not in the document" and don't fill in the blanks. Quotes go word for word, in quotation marks. [Document or text]
Works with these tools
- ChatGPT · OpenAI's mainstream AI assistant: chat, voice, images, the Work agent and Codex.
- Claude · An AI assistant for long documents, analysis and code, with Claude Code and Cowork on paid plans.
- Gemini · Google's assistant, built into Gmail, Docs and Sheets, with Deep Research, Gemini Live and Canvas.
Professions it helps
- Construction superintendent
- Project engineer
- Architect
- Project manager
- Executive assistant and office manager
Showing 5 of 15
More in Prompts
- Break down an idea with the Lean Canvas · A rough idea → the 9 Lean Canvas blocks, the riskiest assumptions and 3 tests you can run this week.
- Script for an 8-10 minute video · A hook for the first 15 seconds, content blocks, a shot list and 5 title options.
- SEO review of a page · Paste your page text and target searches to get prioritized fixes, new title and description tags, and an FAQ.
Checked: October 2026