How to Summarize an Article with AI

Last updated: January 2026

AI article summarization uses language models to compress long-form content into key points in seconds. Best methods include Claude for complex articles (200K token context), ChatGPT for quick summaries, browser extensions like TLDR This for one-click convenience, and Perplexity for research with citations.

You saved 47 articles to read later. You've read zero of them. Sound familiar?

AI summarization turns long articles into key points in seconds. But "summarize this" prompts give mediocre results. This guide covers how to get actually useful summaries.

The Quick Methods

Method 1: ChatGPT or Claude (Copy-Paste)

The simplest approach:

1. Copy the article text
2. Paste into ChatGPT or Claude
3. Add a specific prompt (see below)

Works for: Any article you can copy text from.

Limitation: Manual copy-paste, can't handle paywalled content.

Method 2: Browser Extensions

Install once, summarize anywhere:

• TLDR This: One-click article summaries
• Glasp: Highlight and summarize as you read
• Wordtune Read: Summarizes sections on hover
• Eightify: Works on YouTube videos too

Works for: Web articles, quick summaries while browsing.

Limitation: Quality varies, less control over output.

Method 3: Direct URL Tools

Some tools accept URLs directly:

• Paste a URL, get a summary
• No copying article text
• Works with most public articles

Works for: Quick summaries without leaving your workflow.

Writing Better Prompts

"Summarize this" gives generic results. Specific prompts get useful summaries.

Bad prompt:

Summarize this article.

Better prompts:

For quick understanding:

Summarize this in 3 bullet points. Focus on the main argument and key evidence.

For sharing:

Turn this into a LinkedIn post with a hook and 3 takeaways.

For learning:

Explain this like I'm a beginner. What are the key concepts I need to understand?

For decision-making:

List the pros, cons, and any data points mentioned.

For research:

Extract all statistics, studies, and sources cited in this article.

For specific focus:

Summarize only the sections about [specific topic].

The quality of your summary depends on how clearly you communicate what you need.

Types of AI Summarization

Different approaches serve different purposes:

Extractive Summarization

Pulls key sentences directly from the text. The summary uses the author's exact words. Good for preserving precise quotes and facts.

Abstractive Summarization

Rewrites content in new words. Reads more naturally but may introduce slight interpretation. What ChatGPT and Claude do by default.

Query-Based Summarization

Answers specific questions about the content instead of general summary. Useful when you know what you're looking for.

Example prompt:

What does this article say about [specific topic]? Ignore everything else.

Multi-Document Summarization

Combines information from multiple articles into one summary. Good for research across sources.

Example prompt:

I'm going to paste 3 articles about [topic]. Summarize the key points they agree on and where they differ.

Best Tools for Article Summarization

For General Use: Claude

Claude handles long articles well (200K token context). Upload PDFs directly. Produces thoughtful, nuanced summaries. Best for complex or lengthy content.

How to use:

1. Upload article or paste text
2. Specify what kind of summary you need
3. Ask follow-up questions about specific sections

Pricing: Free tier available. Pro at $20/month.

For more options, see our guide to best AI summarizers.

For Quick Summaries: ChatGPT

Faster responses, handles most articles well. Good for quick summaries when depth isn't critical.

How to use:

1. Paste article text
2. Add specific prompt
3. Refine with follow-ups if needed

Pricing: Free tier available. Plus at $20/month.

For Research: Perplexity

Summarizes web content with citations. Good when you need to verify claims or find sources.

How to use:

1. Ask about a topic or paste URL
2. Get summary with source links
3. Click through to verify

Pricing: Free tier available. Pro at $20/month.

For Browsing: TLDR This

Browser extension for instant summaries. No copy-paste required. Works on most web articles.

How to use:

1. Install extension
2. Click icon on any article
3. Get summary in sidebar

Pricing: Free tier available. Paid plans from $9.99/month.

For Batch Processing: Miniloop

When you need to summarize many articles or documents at once. Describe what you want, AI generates code to process them.

How to use:

1. Upload documents or provide URLs
2. Describe the summary format you need
3. Run batch processing

Pricing: Free, $29/mo+

Summarizing Different Content Types

News Articles

Focus on: Who, what, when, where, why. Ask for facts, not analysis.

Prompt:

Summarize the key facts: who is involved, what happened, when, and why it matters.

Research Papers

Focus on: Methods, findings, limitations. Academic papers have standard structures.

Prompt:

Summarize: 1) Research question, 2) Methodology, 3) Key findings, 4) Limitations, 5) Implications.

Opinion Pieces

Focus on: Main argument, supporting evidence, counterarguments addressed.

Prompt:

What is the author's main argument? What evidence do they use? What counterarguments do they address?

Technical Documentation

Focus on: What it does, how to use it, key configurations.

Prompt:

Summarize what this tool/feature does and the key steps to use it. Skip background information.

Long-Form Features

Focus on: Narrative arc, key insights, memorable examples.

Prompt:

What is the main story here? What are the 3 most important insights? Include one memorable example.

Tips for Better Summaries

Specify length. "3 bullet points" or "one paragraph" gives you control over output length.

Specify audience. "For a technical reader" vs "for someone unfamiliar with the topic" changes the summary significantly.

Specify format. Bullets, numbered lists, paragraphs, Q&A format. Choose what fits your use case.

Ask for what's missing. After a summary, ask "What important points did you leave out?" to catch gaps.

Iterate. First summary not right? Ask for adjustments rather than starting over.

When Not to Trust AI Summaries

Nuanced arguments. AI can flatten complex positions into simple statements.

Numbers and data. Always verify specific statistics in the original.

Quotes. AI may paraphrase when you need exact wording.

Recent events. Models have knowledge cutoffs. Verify current information.

Controversial topics. Summaries may reflect training biases.

For important decisions, use summaries for orientation, then read the key sections yourself.

How to Get Better AI Summaries

AI summarization saves hours of reading time. But generic prompts give generic results.

For better summaries:

1. Be specific about what you need
2. Match the tool to the content type
3. Verify important facts in the original

Start with Claude or ChatGPT for general use. Add browser extensions for quick web summaries. Use specialized tools for batch processing or research with citations.

The goal isn't to never read anything. It's to quickly identify what's worth reading deeply.