How do I prompt an AI for reliable summaries?
Define audience, length, and must-include points. Tell the model to avoid speculation and to quote or cite exact phrases for critical facts. For long inputs, ask it to build a bullet outline first, then synthesize into a paragraph. If stakes are high, add a verification step: ‘List any claims you’re unsure about.’ Use the same summary template across documents to keep quality consistent.
In practice
Force coverage with a short checklist: purpose, key findings, numbers, and caveats.
Where to start
- [01]Create a 3-part summary template (audience, length, checklist).
- [02]Test on 10 varied documents; refine wording.
- [03]Add a ‘uncertainty’ line to flag weak points.
- [04]Store summaries with the source reference link.
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