How to summarize a YouTube video in Safari
Get the main points and ask follow-up questions beside the video. AlliHat reads the available YouTube transcript, so you can decide which parts to watch.
Ask about the video you're already watching.
Enable AlliHat in Safari.
Install AlliHat from the Mac App Store, then turn it on under Safari Settings, Extensions. Allow it on YouTube.
Open a video with a transcript.
Use the video's normal YouTube watch page. Expand its description and look for Show transcript. YouTube makes transcripts available for videos with captions. YouTube explains where to find them.
Open the AlliHat sidebar.
Click the AlliHat toolbar button. Choose your connected AI. You can sign in with your ChatGPT account or use another supported provider.
Ask what you want to know.
Try "Summarize this video in five bullet points." AlliHat opens the transcript panel when needed and uses the spoken transcript as context for your question.
Try a question with a clear answer.
For a public example, open NASA eClips' video about Moon phases. Check that its transcript is available, then ask:
Example question
Explain the cause of the Moon's phases using this video's transcript. Keep it short and use plain language.
Then ask
Where does the video explain the difference between rotation and revolution? Include the transcript timestamp if it is available.
Use the timestamp to find the passage and watch that part yourself.
Make the summary useful to you.
A lecture, a product review, and a tutorial call for different questions. Tell AlliHat which parts matter.
- For a tutorial: "List the steps and anything I need before I start."
- For an interview: "What reasons does the speaker give for that decision?"
- For a review: "What problems does the reviewer mention?"
- For a lecture: "Explain the main idea, then list the terms I should look up."
You can keep asking follow-up questions in the same sidebar while the video stays open.
It reads the transcript. It doesn't watch the video.
AlliHat's YouTube summary uses the words in the transcript, along with the video's title and description. A chart shown silently, a visual demonstration, or words that only appear on screen may be missing from the answer. Watch those sections directly.
Automatic captions can also mishear names and technical terms. Check an important quote against the recording before using it.
No Show transcript button?
If YouTube has no transcript for that video, AlliHat cannot produce a transcript-based summary. It may still see the title or description, but that isn't the full video. Try a captioned video or paste a transcript you already have.
The transcript panel is empty.
AlliHat retries YouTube's transcript loading when it can. If it still doesn't load, open Show transcript yourself, reload the video page, and try again once the transcript appears.
The video is very long.
Long transcripts can be shortened before they reach the AI. Ask about a particular section and check the answer against the transcript. Don't assume a short summary covers every point in a long recording.
What gets sent to the AI?
For a cloud AI, your question and the available transcript context go to the provider you choose. AlliHat does not send the request through its own server. It does not upload the video file for this transcript-based feature. Read the privacy details.
Questions about YouTube summaries in Safari
Do I need to copy the YouTube transcript?
Usually no. AlliHat reads the transcript panel on the video page. You can also paste text into the chat if you have a transcript from somewhere else.
Can I get timestamps with the summary?
Ask for timestamps. AlliHat includes available transcript timestamps in the context sent to the AI, but check the returned times against the video.
Do I need a ChatGPT API key?
No. AlliHat supports ChatGPT account sign-in. Your ChatGPT plan's access and limits apply, and the AlliHat subscription is separate.
Does this work on an iPhone?
This guide is for AlliHat in Safari on Mac. AlliHat requires macOS 14 or later.
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.
