How To Summarise PDFs Using Microsoft Copilot and ChatGPT (2025 Update)
Need to get the key points from a long document and fast? When you’re working with a PDF, such as a lengthy report, you might have asked the question, “Can Copilot summarise a PDF?” The good news is that both Microsoft 365 Copilot and ChatGPT can now make summarising content quicker and easier than ever.
This guide walks you through the best ways to summarise files using Microsoft 365 Copilot and ChatGPT, with updates for 2025 including new mobile features and time-saving integrations. For more ideas on making the most of AI to be more productive and to improve the quality if your work, read 8 practical ways to use ChatGPT in your business.
Benefits of Using Microsoft Copilot and ChatGPT
Time Efficiency: Significantly reduce the need for manual review of lengthy documents. What could take hours of careful reading can now be done in minutes with AI assistance, freeing up your time for more strategic work.
Accurate Summaries: AI tools ensure that critical information is retained without compromising the core message. You can trust that the key points will be accurately represented, which is essential for making informed decisions based on summarised data.
Enhanced Productivity: Quickly gain insights that are directly relevant to your needs, making it easier to make informed decisions. Summarised content is also easier to share, making collaboration with team members more efficient.
Flexibility and Adaptability: Both tools offer different approaches to summarisation. Copilot focuses more on extraction, whereas ChatGPT provides a more interpretative summary. Together, they provide flexibility depending on the document type and intended audience.
New Summarisation Features in Microsoft Copilot (2025)
Microsoft Copilot now works across more tools and content types. Here how to use Copilot to summarise a pdf and other files:
✅ Summarise files directly in OneDrive—without opening them
Hover over a file and select the Copilot button, then choose Summarise. This not only provides a handy Copilot pdf summary but also works for Word documents, PowerPoints and more – ideal when you need a quick overview without opening multiple apps.
✅ Summarise emails and threads quickly and easily in Outlook Mobile
On iOS and Android, you’ll now find a Copilot button in Outlook for summarising emails and threads. One tap delivers a clean summary of the conversation—including who said what, key dates, and next steps.
✅ Summarise web pages quickly and easily in Microsoft Edge mobile
With the Copilot button in Edge, you can summarise a full web page with one click. Great for research, scanning news articles, or comparing product reviews.
How to Summarise PDFs Using Copilot or ChatGPT
The quickest way to summarise a PDF is by dragging and dropping it directly into Microsoft Copilot or into ChatGPT.
- Once uploaded, try a prompt like:
“Summarise this PDF in bullet points”
or
“List the key recommendations from this document.” - Customise the Output
Ask follow-up prompts like “Make it more concise,” or “Summarise just the conclusion section.”
How to Summarise Text Using ChatGPT or Copilot
Try this with any PDF:
- Open the PDF and copy the text you want summarised (or use a summariser extension to extract it).
- Go to ChatGPT or Copilot and prompt it with:
“Please summarise this content in plain English.” Or you can ask for a specific format:
“Turn this into key bullet points for a team meeting.”
Best Practice Tips
- Use clear, specific prompts. Instead of “summarise,” try “give me the key outcomes from this meeting transcript.”
- For sensitive files, use Microsoft Copilot within your organisation for improved data security.
- You can also summarise web content and email threads on the go using built-in Copilot buttons in Edge and Outlook mobile.
When to Use Each Tool
Microsoft CopilotBusiness users working within Microsoft 365 (Word, Excel, Outlook, OneDrive). Great for document summaries, reports, and email digests.
ChatGPTIdeal for creatives, freelancers, and students. Useful for summarising public PDFs, web pages, and converting content into easy-to-read formats.
Final Thoughts
Summarising content used to mean reading everything. Now, Copilot and ChatGPT do the heavy lifting, making it easier to find key points, prioritise tasks, and stay productive.
For more practical tips on improving productivity with AI our AI Training Courses can help.
