Key takeaways:
- Two ways to summarize: Chrome extension or direct on the site
- Copy-paste the link for the most reliable results
- Works for any article, blog, or social post
Ever get stuck with a super long article and just want the main points? I’ve been there. Perplexity AI makes it easy to get a quick summary, whether you’re on your laptop or phone. I’ll show you two simple ways to do it, so you can save time and skip the fluff.
You don’t need to be a tech pro. Just follow these steps and you’ll be summarizing content like a boss. This works for news, blogs, or even those viral social posts.
Table of Contents
- Chrome Extension Method for Summarizing Articles
- Manual Method: Summarizing Directly on Perplexity
- Why the Direct Method Wins
- Tips for Better Summaries
- Use Cases: Where Summarizing Helps
- Troubleshooting: If Perplexity Can’t Summarize
- Privacy and Security
- Going Beyond Articles
- Quick Table: Extension vs. Manual Method
- FAQs
- How do I install the Perplexity AI Companion extension?
- What if the extension can’t summarize the page?
- Can I use Perplexity AI to summarize PDFs or other files?
- Is there a way to save or share the summary?
- Does Perplexity AI work on mobile?
Chrome Extension Method for Summarizing Articles
The first way is with the Perplexity AI Companion Chrome extension. You can grab it from the Chrome Web Store—just search for Perplexity AI Companion and make sure you’re getting the real deal from Perplexity AI. Hit “Add to Chrome” and you’re set.
Once it’s installed, pin the extension so it’s easy to reach. Open any article you want to summarize, click the extension, and hit the “Summarize” button. If it works, you’ll get a summary right away.
But here’s the thing: sometimes, the extension just doesn’t work. It might not read the page or fails to give you a result. It’s a bit hit or miss. If you run into this, don’t stress—there’s a better way.
If you’re new to Chrome extensions or want to manage them, check out how to manage extensions in Google Chrome.
Manual Method: Summarizing Directly on Perplexity
The more reliable way is to use Perplexity AI’s site directly. Just copy the article’s URL, head over to Perplexity, and paste the link into the chat. Ask it to “summarize this article” and send.
You can pick your favorite AI model, like Claude 3.7 Sonnet or GPT-4o, but honestly, any of them will do the job. In just a few seconds, you’ll get a clean summary—no Chrome extension needed.
This works on any browser, any device, and even the mobile app. No extra installs, no headaches.
If you want to save the summary or share it, you can always copy and paste it wherever you need. Need to save a web page as a PDF first? Here’s how to download a web page as PDF.
Why the Direct Method Wins
The extension is nice when it works, but it’s not always reliable. The direct method is fast, works everywhere, and doesn’t depend on browser quirks. Plus, you can use it for anything—articles, blogs, social media posts, even PDFs if you upload them.
If you’re working with different file types or want to convert them, you might find how to convert PDF to Word without additional software handy.
Tips for Better Summaries
- Always double-check the summary for accuracy, especially with technical or sensitive topics.
- If the article has a paywall, Perplexity might not access the full content.
- For really long articles, ask for “key takeaways” or “main points” to keep things short.
- You can also ask follow-up questions about the article to dig deeper.
Use Cases: Where Summarizing Helps
- Researching for school or work—get the gist without reading the whole thing
- Catching up on news fast
- Breaking down dense blog posts or think pieces
- Summarizing social media threads
If you’re juggling a lot of tabs and info, how to save and export all open browser tabs in Google Chrome is a lifesaver.
Troubleshooting: If Perplexity Can’t Summarize
- Make sure the link is public and not behind a login.
- If the extension fails, try the manual method.
- Refresh the page or restart your browser if things get weird.
- Still stuck? Try a different browser or device.
Privacy and Security
Perplexity doesn’t store your personal data from summaries. Still, avoid pasting private or sensitive info just to be safe.
If you’re curious about privacy on other platforms, how to hide like and reaction counts on Facebook posts has some good tips.
Going Beyond Articles
Perplexity isn’t just for articles. You can summarize YouTube transcripts, PDFs, or even your own notes. If you’re working with PDFs, how to extract and save a single page from PDF document can help you break down files before summarizing.
Quick Table: Extension vs. Manual Method
| Feature | Chrome Extension | Manual Method (Direct) |
|---|---|---|
| Reliability | Sometimes fails | Always works |
| Setup | Needs install | No install needed |
| Works on Mobile | No | Yes |
| Handles All Content | Not always | Yes |
| Speed | Can lag | Fast |
FAQs
How do I install the Perplexity AI Companion extension?
Search for Perplexity AI Companion in the Chrome Web Store, click “Add to Chrome,” and pin it for easy access.
What if the extension can’t summarize the page?
Just copy the article link and use the manual method on Perplexity’s website—it’s much more reliable.
Can I use Perplexity AI to summarize PDFs or other files?
Yes, you can upload PDFs or paste text directly into Perplexity for a summary.
You can copy the summary and paste it wherever you want, or save it as a text file.
Does Perplexity AI work on mobile?
Yes, the manual method works on any browser or the mobile app—no extension needed.
