ChatGPT by Open AI is a lifesaver when working with texts of any size and format, including PDFs. Often, these are very voluminous documents with poorly structured text that take a lot of time to study. This can be a problem for professionals in any field.

With the development of technology, this problem is becoming quite insignificant. In particular, ChatGPT can quickly analyze any PDF document, extract certain information from it, and answer questions about the text. Having recently become publicly available, this tool is becoming an indispensable assistant in your work.

Thanks to continuous improvements, the free version of the chat offers features that were previously available only to premium users. For example, in early May 2024, the company presented a new model, the GPT-4o, giving users access to many features that previously required a subscription. This includes the analysis of PDF documents.

How to analyze a PDF file in Open AI

It is very easy to get started with the tool, even if you have never used it before. The chat has an intuitive interface and, most importantly, it will save you a lot of time and effort.

How to use ChatGPT to analyze PDF files for free: a simple guide

Step-by-step guide to analyzing a PDF file in ChatGPT

1. Log in to ChatGPT. To use the GPT-4o and its advanced features, especially file uploads, you need to create an account (or sign in with a Google account to avoid having to remember another password) and log in.

2. Download the PDF file. Once you enter the ChatGPT interface, you will see a small paper clip icon next to the text field. Click on it. The program will offer several options for where it can download your file from: Google Drive, Microsoft OneDrive, or your computer. Choose the location you want, find your file there, and upload it to the chat. It will take a few seconds.

3. Write a request. When the file is downloaded, enter a request in the text field. It can be a simple task for AI, such as “Analyze/review/briefly summarize this article”, or more complex “Highlight points, break it down by topic, format the text into an email to a colleague”.

You can also ask the chat to highlight a specific detail that interests you. For example, while writing this article, the author uploaded a PDF file with the rules for carrying hand luggage on Intercity trains and asked the assistant: “What weight suitcase can I take with me on my trip?”. The bot gave the correct answer: “According to the rules for the transportation of hand luggage on Intercity and Intercity+ trains, you can take a suitcase weighing up to 36 kg, the dimensions of which do not exceed 200 cm in the sum of three dimensions.”

In the case of very large files, you can ask the bot to summarize the document, shorten large paragraphs, etc. This will significantly save you time when working with text. In addition, you can share the results of this work with friends or colleagues using the Share Chat icon in the upper right corner of the screen.

Useful services for AI analysis of PDF files

In addition to the method described above, PDF files can be analyzed using plug-ins and websites powered by ChatGPT. They can greatly simplify interaction with documents of this format and fulfill almost any user request. Such tools look like websites or browser extensions, are free and easy to use.

AskYourPDF

This is a Chrome extension that will save you from having to read through kilometers of PDF text to find the information you need. AskYourPDF will do everything for you. It is especially useful for students and professionals who regularly work with large volumes of texts.

Expansion features:

  • supports large PDF files;
  • searches by keywords;
  • analyzes large amounts of information;
  • has a user-friendly interface and easy navigation;
  • is able to translate and make short text extracts;
  • does not speak Ukrainian.

How to use AskYourPDF

  1. Install the extension in your Google Chrome browser.
  2. Open a PDF document using the Click to upload button.
  3. In a few seconds, the program will analyze the document, provide a brief review, and suggest several questions you can ask it. Or you can formulate your own query in the text box – anything related to the content of the PDF file. For example, “make a 200-word summary of this PDF, highlighting 5 points”.
  4. The program also allows you to select a specific area of the document and ask for an explanation of the content.

How to use ChatGPT to analyze PDF files for free: a simple guide

There are several drawbacks to this extension, including dependence on the Internet and imperfect translation.

How to use ChatGPT to analyze PDF files for free: a simple guide

Tariff plans:

  • free with a limit of 100 pages of a document up to 15 MB and 50 questions per day.
  • Premium – $14.99 per month. Allows you to process 50 documents of 2500 pages, up to 30MB in size, and ask up to 1200 questions.
  • Pro – $19.99 per month. It allows you to process 150 documents per day with a capacity of 6000 pages and a maximum file size of 90 MB. The number of questions and conversations is unlimited.

ChatWithPDF

A free webinar tool for interacting with PDF documents via ChatGPT with no setup or downloads required. To get started:

  1. Go to the site and log in.
  2. Download the PDF file.
  3. In a few seconds, the program will analyze the text and present it in the Summary tab. Going to the Chat tab, you can ask any questions about the content of the document and get answers.

How to use ChatGPT to analyze PDF files for free: a simple guide

Among the disadvantages of the program are translation inaccuracies. A significant advantage is the database of scientific articles – you can find research on any topic. For example, by searching for “skin” you can get a number of scientific papers about skin and a short review of them from ChatWithPDF. This feature can be very useful for students, teachers, and professionals in various fields who work with large amounts of information.

So, as you can see, the days when you had to dig through mountains and gigabytes of text to get the information you needed are over. Modern AI-based programs simplify any technical tasks, leaving more room for creativity and saving the most valuable resource – time.