From contracts to research papers, PDFs are ubiquitous in our professional and personal lives. These documents often contain verbose language and extensive content, making them challenging to navigate. Fortunately, AI can assist in understanding and managing these lengthy PDFs, saving valuable time.
ChatGPT can act as your personal assistant by parsing through PDFs and standing by for any questions or tasks you need help with. It can answer questions, provide summaries, and even generate content from the text, such as outlines, emails, and more. The best part? This feature is entirely free.
In May 2024, nearly a year after ChatGPT’s launch, OpenAI upgraded the free version of the chatbot with several GPT-4o features that were typically reserved for paying customers. These features include the ability to upload screenshots, photos, and documents. Getting started with this tool is straightforward and promises to save you significant time and effort.
1. Log into ChatGPT
While you can access ChatGPT without logging in, you need to sign in to use GPT-4o and its advanced features, such as Browse, Vision, data analysis, file uploads, and GPTs. If you haven’t created a ChatGPT account, you can easily do so from the sign-in page or log in with your existing Google or Microsoft account.
2. Upload Your PDF
After signing in, you will be brought to the ChatGPT interface. Next to the textbox where you typically insert text to start chatting, you will see a paper clip icon. Clicking this icon will present you with several options: Connect to Google Drive, Connect to Microsoft OneDrive, or Upload from a computer.
Select the option that best suits where your document is stored. For documents you’ve just downloaded, “upload from my computer” is the most straightforward choice. Then, click on the PDF you need assistance with.
3. Add Your Question
Once your PDF is uploaded, accompany it with a text query indicating what you’d like ChatGPT to do. These prompts can be as adventurous or as simple as you like. For instance, you might ask, “Can you summarize what this article is about?”
In response, ChatGPT will provide a comprehensive summary. For more complex tasks, you could request something like, “Take out the action items, place them in bullet points, and format them into an email addressed to my boss.”
Using ChatGPT to help parse through dense PDFs can save you time and help you sift through long-winded paragraphs. However, always verify ChatGPT’s output to ensure accuracy and to avoid any potential hallucinations.
For those interested in exploring more document-summarizing tools, stay tuned for similar capabilities coming to Apple OS later this year.
By leveraging ChatGPT’s advanced features, you can transform the way you interact with lengthy PDFs, making your work more efficient and manageable.
