AI Text Summarizer

The AI Text Summarizer turns a long article, research paper, meeting notes, email thread or report into a short summary you can check. Paste the text or upload a file, choose the length and format, and get a TL;DR, key points and a paragraph, with every key point linked to the sentence it comes from.

Why it's different

• Linked to your text. Click a key point to see the source sentence highlighted. Points that can't be traced are marked.
• Nothing added unnoticed. Numbers and names in the summary that aren't in your text are flagged.
• Made for the kind of text. Meeting notes get decisions and action items, research papers get findings and limitations.
• Measured. See the word count, how much shorter the summary is and the reading time saved.
• Ask about it. Ask a question and get an answer from your text, with quotes.

How to summarize a text

1. Paste the text or upload a PDF, Word or text file.
2. Choose what kind of text it is, the length, format and style.
3. Click Summarize, then click any key point to check its source.

Tips for good summaries

• Pick the right type. A meeting summary and an article summary need different things.
• Go short first. Start with Short, then ask for more detail if you need it.
• Check the flagged items. Anything marked isn't in your text as written.
• Summarize long documents in parts. A chapter at a time keeps the detail.

Related tools

Turn a summary into a quiz with the AI Quiz Generator, reword it with the AI Paraphraser, or go the other way with the AI Sentence Expander.

Summary styles

• Neutral: keeps the source's own tone and wording level. This is the default.
• Simple: uses plain, simple words that a 12-year-old can follow, and explains any term that can't be avoided.
• Executive: starts with the bottom line, then lists decisions, numbers and implications.
• Academic: precise and formal. It keeps technical terms and the authors' qualifications.

Frequently asked questions

How do I summarize a text?

Paste the text or upload a PDF, Word or text file, choose what kind of text it is, how long the summary should be and whether you want key points, a paragraph or both. You get a TL;DR, key points linked to the sentences they come from, and a paragraph summary.

Can I trust an AI summary?

Check it the easy way: every key point here links to the sentence in your text it comes from, and points the page can't find in your text are marked. Numbers and names that appear in the summary but not in your text are listed too, so anything made up stands out.

Can it summarize a PDF?

Yes. Upload a PDF, Word (.docx) or text file and its text is read in your browser and put in the box, up to about 3,500 words at a time. Scanned PDFs without selectable text can't be read.

Can it summarize meeting notes?

Yes. Choose Meeting notes or transcript and the summary lists the decisions made and the action items, with who is doing what and by when, as far as the notes say.

How short can the summary be?

Choose Brief for a few sentences or Detailed for a fuller summary. The target is set from the length of your text, and the page shows how many words the summary has, how much shorter it is, and how much reading time it saves.

Is it free?

Yes. Every day you get free AI runs, and each run gives the full summary. Longer texts use more than one run. Checking sources, copying and the examples on this page are always free; adjusting the summary or asking a question uses one run.