Picture: Screenshot by Sabrina Ortiz/ZDNET
Whether or not you’re a pupil or a working skilled, you probably work together with PDFs incessantly by way of the type of shows, tutorial analysis, enterprise stories, and extra.
No matter whether or not it’s a 90-page slide deck or a prolonged analysis paper, PDFs within the classroom or office are sometimes tedious to wade by way of. ChatPDF is right here to assist.
Additionally: One of the best AI chatbots: ChatGPT and alternate options to attempt
Because the identify implies, ChatPDF lets you chat along with your PDF.
ChatPDF runs on OpenAI’s GPT 3.5 giant language mannequin and may reply any query you could have in regards to the PDF you add. The chatbot may even offer you a full abstract of the PDF with out you having to learn it.
Additionally: The 5 greatest dangers of generative AI, in response to an knowledgeable
Free plan customers are restricted to 3 PDF uploads of 120 pages or much less a day. Nonetheless, should you want extra entry, you may improve to a plus plan for $5 per 30 days.
I put the chatbot to the take a look at and was completely impressed with the outcomes.
Utilizing ChatPDF for a tutorial paper
I just lately wrote an article on AI primarily based on a 58-page paper by the Nationwide Bureau of Financial Analysis. I selected to make use of this paper as my take a look at topic for ChatPDF as I knew its contents effectively.
After importing the paper to ChatPDF, it robotically generated a really temporary abstract for the paper and recommended questions I may ask, as seen by the photograph beneath.
Picture: ChatPDF
As an alternative of utilizing one of many solutions, I requested the chatbot what examine was performed within the paper. I used to be met with correct outcomes and even a web page quantity that advised me the place the chatbot received the data from within the paper, which was super-useful in case I needed to refer again to it myself.
Additionally: Tips on how to use ChatGPT to jot down an essay
I then requested what the outcomes of the examine have been and was met, but once more, with correct outcomes and a web page reference.
Picture: Screenshot by Sabrina Ortiz/ZDNET
Lastly, I needed to see if the chatbot may sum up all the article precisely and concisely. When prompted, the chatbot did precisely that — it summarized the examine and the findings in a single, five-sentence paragraph.
Picture: Screenshot by Sabrina Ortiz/ZDNET
Utilizing ChatPDF for a presentation
After the optimistic outcomes I received from utilizing ChatPDF to summarize a tutorial paper, I made a decision to attempt a presentation. I went all the way in which again in my Google Drive archives to discover a ultimate presentation I labored on in faculty, which made the right candidate for the take a look at.
After importing the PDF, the chatbot output a quick, one-sentence abstract of my very own presentation. After I requested for a extra thorough abstract, the chatbot delivered once more, as seen beneath. It even included an anecdote about two movies within the presentation that I forgot have been in there.
Picture: Screenshot by Sabrina Ortiz/ZDNET
To actually take a look at its capability, I requested it a extra particular query about one slide. The outcomes, as soon as once more, have been correct.
Picture: Screenshot by Sabrina Ortiz/ZDNET
ChatPDF vs ChatGPT
To make use of ChatGPT to sum up articles, you’re imagined to sort in “TDLR”, after which observe that with the hyperlink of the article.
Additionally: Tips on how to use ChatGPT to summarize a ebook, article, or analysis paper
I used that methodology and the outcomes have been incorrect. ChatGPT gave me a abstract for an article that wasn’t even associated to the subject at hand.
Picture: Screenshot by Sabrina Ortiz/ZDNET
The inaccurate outcomes make sense, since ChatGPT would not have entry to the web or to info after 2021. Nonetheless, this fault makes ChatGPT wildly unreliable for our use case.
If you want to summarize a PDF, I might suggest using ChatPDF as a substitute of ChatGPT because the outcomes are correct, fast, and free.