Turn long PDFs or Word files into a quick summary with Mistral AI

Open the Mistral AI chat page and sign in

Action: Open your web browser, type https://chat.mistral.ai into the address bar, and press Enter.
What you see: A landing page with a large “Log in” button near the centre. Below it you’ll find options like “Continue with Google” or “Sign up with email.”
What happens next: After you click “Log in” and enter your credentials, the page reloads to a clean chat window that looks like a simple messaging app – a white bubble area at the top and a text box at the bottom.
If it looks different: If you’re already signed in you may land straight on the chat screen; if you see a “Create account” form, just follow the on‑screen prompts to register for free.
Success check: You’ll know it worked when the chat screen shows an empty message field at the bottom and no login prompts are visible.

Attach your PDF or Word file to the chat

Action: Locate the attachment button next to the message box and click it.
What you see: Most browsers display a small paper‑clip icon, a plus sign, or an upward‑arrow button right beside the text field. Clicking it opens a file‑chooser window that lists the folders on your device.
What happens next: After you navigate to the folder containing your document, select the file and click “Open” (or “Select”). A tiny thumbnail with the filename appears just above the message box, confirming the file is ready to be sent.
If it looks different: If you don’t see a paper‑clip, look for a button labelled “Attach,” “Upload,” or an icon that resembles a folder. Some mobile layouts hide the icon behind a three‑dot menu – tap that first.
Success check: You’ll know it worked when the filename (e.g., manual.pdf) is displayed above the input field, indicating the file is attached.

Write a clear prompt asking for a summary

Action: Type a short instruction – known as a prompt – into the message box.
What you see: As you type, the words appear in the same field where you would normally send a chat message, just like texting a friend.
What happens next: The prompt stays in the box until you send it, ready to be delivered together with your attached file.
If it looks different: On some devices the “Enter” key may add a line break instead of sending; in that case look for a small paper‑plane icon (the send button) and use that to submit.

Please read the attached document and give me a concise, one‑paragraph summary that highlights the main points.

**Success check:** You’ll know it worked when the full sentence you just typed is visible in the input area, ready to be sent.

Send the request and wait for the AI to generate the summary

Action: Click the send button (often a paper‑plane or arrow icon) or press Enter if it submits on your device.
What you see: Your prompt and the file thumbnail move into the chat history on the right‑hand side, confirming they have been transmitted.
What happens next: A brief “…” animation appears, showing the AI is processing the request. After a few seconds (usually under ten) a paragraph of text appears below your message – the generated summary.
If it looks different: If the animation never appears, double‑check your internet connection or ensure the file size is under the platform’s limit (typically a few megabytes for plain‑text PDFs). You can also try re‑sending the prompt.
Success check: You’ll know it worked when a new block of text shows up beneath your sent message, starting with a sentence that begins to recap the document’s content.

Review the summary and, if needed, ask for tweaks

Action: Read the paragraph that the AI produced and decide whether it meets your needs.
What you see: The summary appears as a single block of plain text, usually concise and easy to scan.
What happens next: If the summary is just right, you can copy it for later use. If it’s too long, vague, or misses a key section, you can send another prompt asking for a revision.
If it looks different: Some users may see the summary split into bullet points – that’s still acceptable, just copy the whole answer. To request a change, type a new instruction such as “Please shorten the summary to two sentences” and send it.

Can you shorten that to two sentences and focus on the main conclusion?

**Success check:** You’ll know it worked when the AI replies with a revised paragraph that matches the new instruction (e.g., exactly two sentences).