How to summarize a PDF in Safari
Ask about a PDF without copying it into another app. Open the document in Safari, then use AlliHat to get a summary or find a specific detail.
Open the PDF. Then open AlliHat.
Enable AlliHat in Safari.
Install AlliHat from the Mac App Store. In Safari, open Settings, then Extensions, and turn on AlliHat. Allow it on the website that hosts your PDF.
Open the PDF itself.
Follow the document link until Safari shows the PDF. If it sits inside another site's document viewer, open the direct PDF link in its own tab.
Choose an AI that reads documents.
Click the AlliHat toolbar button and open the model picker. Claude or Gemini with your own API key are supported options. ChatGPT with an API key also supports PDF documents. Apple's on-device AI cannot read PDF attachments.
Ask for the summary you need.
Type a question in the sidebar. AlliHat attaches the PDF to your request, so you don't have to copy its text into another app.
Try it with a short document.
Open NASA's Webb Space Telescope fact sheet in Safari. It gives you a public document to try before using one of your own.
Example question
Summarize this PDF in five bullet points. Focus on what the telescope is designed to study.
Then ask
What does the document say about the sunshield? Point me to the section so I can read it myself.
Ask for the relevant page or section, then check it in the PDF. A useful summary should help you find the parts worth reading.
Go past "summarize this."
Tell AlliHat what you want from the document. For a report, ask which findings support its conclusion. For a manual, ask which steps apply to the thing you're trying to do.
- "Explain the terms in this section in plain English."
- "Which numbers in this report changed from last year?"
- "List the steps I need to follow, in order."
- "Does the document answer this question, or is that information missing?"
Keep the PDF open beside the conversation so you can compare the answer with the source.
If the PDF won't summarize
Check the file size.
AlliHat's PDF attachment limit is 18 MB. If the document is larger, try a smaller document or paste the section you want to discuss. A long document may also reach your AI provider's limits.
Open the direct PDF link.
A preview inside a file-sharing site may be a webpage around a document. Open the PDF itself. The file must be accessible to Safari; a download error or expired link will prevent AlliHat from reading it.
Check the selected AI.
Apple's on-device AI does not accept PDF attachments. Switch to a supported cloud option and check that its connection works. For scans, complex tables, or diagrams, verify the details against the original document. Readability depends on the file and the AI you use.
Where does the document go?
When you ask about a PDF with a cloud AI, the document is sent to that provider. It does not pass through an AlliHat server. Choose a provider you're comfortable sending the document to. Read the privacy details.
Questions about PDF summaries in Safari
Can I summarize a PDF in Safari without copying its text?
Yes. With AlliHat enabled on the PDF's website and a supported AI connected, open the PDF and ask in the sidebar. AlliHat sends the document with your question.
Does this work on iPhone or iPad?
AlliHat is for Safari on Mac, with macOS 14 or later. This guide covers the Mac app.
Is PDF summarizing free?
AlliHat costs $29.99 a year after a 7-day trial. API-based AI usage is billed separately by your provider. OpenRouter Free is another option with free model usage and limits; the AlliHat subscription still applies.
Keep the question beside the page.
AlliHat is an AI sidebar for Safari on Mac. $29.99 a year after a 7-day trial. Cloud AI costs or account limits depend on the provider you choose.
