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Prompt GitHub Copilot to Summarize a Document

GitHub Copilot, the AI assistant developed by GitHub and powered by OpenAI's models, is not limited to code generation. Integrated directly into your editor (VS Code, JetBrains, Neovim), it also excels at summarizing technical documents, specifications, README files, or any documentation present in your project. Summarizing a document is a common task for developers who need to quickly understand the content of a documentation file, a detailed bug report, an RFC, or a large changelog. By using Copilot Chat with a well-structured prompt, you can get a clear and hierarchical synthesis in seconds without leaving your development environment. The major advantage of Copilot for this task lies in its ability to understand the context of your project: it can cross-reference the document content with the surrounding source code to produce more relevant and action-oriented summaries. Whether you are joining a new team, reviewing documentation, or preparing a presentation, mastering the art of summary prompts with Copilot will save you considerable time daily.

The prompt

GitHub Copilot

Summarize the following document in French in a structured manner. Provide: 1) An executive summary of 2-3 sentences capturing the essence of the document. 2) Key points organized by theme as a bullet list (maximum 7 points). 3) Important decisions or actions mentioned. 4) Elements that require special attention or follow-up. Adapt the level of detail to a technical reader who needs to quickly understand the content without reading the entire document. If the document contains code elements or technical specifications, highlight them separately. Here is the document: [PASTE THE DOCUMENT CONTENT HERE]

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Why it works

This prompt works because of an explicit output structure in four numbered sections, which forces the model to organize its response hierarchically rather than producing a monolithic block of text. The instruction about the reader profile (technical, in a hurry) calibrates the level of detail and vocabulary used. Finally, the request to separate code elements and follow-up actions forces a multi-dimensional analysis of the document rather than a simple text compression.

Expected result

You will get a structured summary in four distinct parts: a concise executive summary, a thematic list of key points, an inventory of decisions and actions, and an alerts section for points requiring follow-up. The result is directly usable for a team report, a ticket note, or quick decision-making without having read the entire original document.

Variants by level

FAQ

What is the maximum document size that GitHub Copilot can summarize effectively?
GitHub Copilot Chat has a limited context window (varies by underlying model, typically between 8K and 128K tokens depending on the version). For very long documents, it is recommended to split them into sections and summarize each section separately, then ask for a meta-summary. In VS Code, you can also use the #file command to reference a file in your workspace, allowing Copilot to read it directly without copy-pasting.
How can I get a more faithful summary and avoid Copilot hallucinations?
To minimize hallucinations, add the explicit instruction "Base yourself solely on the content of the provided document, do not supplement with external information" to your prompt. You can also ask Copilot to quote exact passages from the document for each point of the summary by adding "Cite the original sentences in quotation marks for each key point." Finally, always verify factual elements (dates, numbers, names) of the summary against the source document.
Can Copilot be used to summarize non-technical documents like meeting minutes?
Absolutely. Although Copilot is optimized for development context, it handles non-technical documents very well. For a meeting minutes, adapt the prompt by specifically asking for decisions made, assigned owners, deadlines, and open points. You can paste the content directly into Copilot Chat or, if the document is in your repository, reference it with #file. The result will be better the more structured the source document is.

How to use this prompt

  1. Copy the prompt with the button above.
  2. Paste it into ChatGPT, Claude or your favorite AI assistant.
  3. Replace the bracketed variables with your details, then refine the result.

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