How to use AI to summarise a long group chat or email thread
Copy the messages, open a new chat in Gemini, ChatGPT or Claude, and paste our prompt above them. The AI gives you a three-point summary, what was decided, what is still open and who must answer, plus a short reply you can edit and send. It takes about five minutes and works on a free plan.
What you need
| App | Gemini, ChatGPT or Claude, on your phone or computer |
|---|---|
| Cost | Free. This is plain text, so a free account is enough |
| Time | About 5 minutes |
| You need | The messages you want summarised, copied as text |
Step by step
Step 1: Copy the messages as text
Select the group chat or email thread and copy it. Take out phone numbers, addresses, account numbers and anything private that the summary does not need. If you cannot copy the text, Gemini's help page says you can add a file or image to a prompt: click Add files, then follow the on-screen instructions. Text works best.
Step 2: Open a new chat
In Gemini, go to gemini.google.com. To start fresh, click New chat at the top left, and if it is not there, click Menu first. For a private thread, Gemini's help page says a personal Google Account can use a temporary chat that will not appear in your recent chats: click Temporary chat next to New chat. In Claude, type your prompt and click the submit button. ChatGPT's help page says it is free to use.
Step 3: Paste the prompt, then the messages
Change the words in [brackets], paste the messages under the prompt, then send. If the thread is very long, Claude's help page says it warns you when a prompt exceeds the available context window. If that happens, send it in two parts.
Prompt to copyBelow is a [group chat / email thread] between [family members / colleagues / neighbours]. Use only what is written in it. 1. Summarise it in 3 short bullet points. 2. List what has been decided. 3. List what is still open, and who needs to answer each point. 4. Write a short, friendly reply from me. What I want to say: [I can make Saturday, I am happy to split the cost equally]. If something is unclear or missing, say so instead of guessing. Messages: [paste the messages here]
Image: Google Step 4: Check it against the original
Gemini's help page says Gemini can make mistakes, so double-check responses. Look at every name, date, time and amount in the summary and find it in the messages. If something is wrong, tell the AI what is wrong and ask for a corrected version.
Tip: Ask: "Quote the message that says each decision." Anything it cannot quote is a guess.
Image: Google Step 5: Edit the reply and send it yourself
Read the reply out loud and change anything that does not sound like you. Add what only you know, such as whether you can really make the date. Then send it from your own app. The AI never sends anything for you.
What you get
Example answer from Claude on 17 Oct 2026, for a made-up family chat planning a birthday dinner. Shortened. Yours will be worded differently.
Common mistakes
- Pasting other people's private details. Remove numbers, addresses and anything the summary does not need, and use a temporary chat in Gemini for private threads (step 2).
- Trusting the dates, times and amounts without checking them. AI can get a detail wrong, so find each one in the original messages (step 4).
- Sending the AI's reply without reading it. Add what only you know, and make sure it sounds like you.
- Pasting a huge thread in one go. If the app says the prompt is too long, send the thread in two parts and ask for a joint summary at the end.
Questions people ask
Which AI app is best for this?
Any of them. Gemini, ChatGPT and Claude can all summarise pasted text. Our steps were checked on Gemini's, Claude's and ChatGPT's own help pages.
Is it free?
Yes to start. ChatGPT's help page says it is free to use, and Claude's says the free plan has a usage limit that resets every five hours. Check your own app for what a free account includes.
Can I add a screenshot instead of copying the text?
In Gemini, yes: its help page says you can add a file or image to a prompt with Add files. Copied text is usually more accurate, so use it when you can.
Is it safe to paste a private conversation?
Be careful. ChatGPT's help page says your content may be used to train its models unless you opt out. Remove private details first, and see our guide on stopping ChatGPT, Gemini and Claude training on your chats.
Checked against
- OfficialGemini Apps Help: Use Gemini Apps
- OfficialClaude Help Center: Get started with Claude
- OfficialOpenAI Help Center: What is ChatGPT?
AI apps change their buttons often. If a step no longer matches what you see, email hello@openloopnews.com and we will update this guide.
