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Summarize a Document in Chat ​

Use chat to have an agent read an existing document and produce a concise summary — no workflow needed.

What You'll Use ​

FeaturePurpose
ArtifactsThe source document to summarize
ChatConversation with your agent
Action ModeLets the agent create a new artifact

Step 1: Add a Document ​

You need a document for the agent to work with. Either:

  • Upload a file: Go to Artifacts in the sidebar, click New → Upload File, and select a PDF, DOCX, or HTML file.
  • Use an existing artifact: Open any document already in your workspace.

For this example, a 2-5 page report or proposal works well.

Step 2: Ask Questions in Chat Mode ​

  1. Open the Chat panel (bottom of the screen).
  2. Select an agent from the dropdown.
  3. Make sure the mode is set to Chat (the default).
  4. With your document open in the editor, ask a question:

"What are the main points in this document?"

The agent reads the open artifact and responds conversationally. In chat mode, the agent can only read — it cannot create or modify anything.

INFO

Chat mode is ideal for exploration. The agent sees the artifact open in your editor and can answer questions about it without making any changes.

Step 3: Create a Summary in Action Mode ​

  1. Toggle the mode switch from Chat to Action.
  2. Ask the agent to produce an output:

"Create a one-page executive summary of this document and save it as a new artifact."

  1. The agent creates a new document artifact with the summary. A link appears in the chat — click it to open the summary in the editor.

Step 4: Check the Execution Trace ​

Below the agent's response, click the execution trace disclosure to see exactly what happened:

  • Which tool the agent called (output_artifact)
  • The full content it generated
  • The artifact ID and type

This trace is available for every action-mode response and is useful for understanding what the agent did and why.

TIP

Use chat to prototype tasks you might later automate. If you find yourself summarizing the same type of document every week, turn it into a workflow.

What to Try Next ​