In short
Select the text, press Alt+1 and click “Summarize” or “Explain”. “Summarize” gives you the main points and leaves out side details; “Explain” says what the text means, including terms and background. The answer appears in the Zack KI window, as long as your answer length setting allows.
- How to start
- Select text, press Alt+1, click “Summarize” or “Explain”
- Also for
- PDF, Word and other files selected in Explorer
- Answer language
- The language of the Zack KI interface
- Length
- Follows your “Answer length” setting
Step by step
- Select the text, for example a long email thread, a report or a contract clause. For a whole document, select the file in Explorer instead.
- Press Alt+1.
- Click “Summarize” for the key points or “Explain” if you do not understand the text.
- Ask follow-up questions in the same chat, for example “What does this mean for my deadline?”
- Click “Copy answer” below the answer to take the result into your notes.
What is the difference between “Summarize” and “Explain”?
| Chip | What it does | Good for |
|---|---|---|
| Summarize | Gives the main points as an overview. Side details go; essential facts and limitations stay. | Long emails, reports, meeting minutes |
| Explain | Says what the text means, including the terms and background you need to understand it. | Contracts, technical documentation, official letters, error messages |
Both keep apart what the text says and what Zack KI adds as background, and both point out unclear passages instead of guessing what they mean.
How long is the summary?
As long as the “Answer length” under “Settings” → “General” allows. On “Minimal”, a summary has at most two sentences; that tells you what an email is about, not every detail. “Short” and “Normal” allow up to three and four sentences, and Deep allows longer answers on the same setting. More in answer length and personal instructions.
Asking for more points in your own words does not lift this limit. For a detailed overview of a long report, ask about one section at a time.
In which language does the answer come?
“Summarize” and “Explain” answer in the language of the Zack KI interface, which you set under “Settings” → “Appearance” → “Language” (English or Deutsch). With an English interface, you get an English explanation of a German contract.
For a summary in another language, type the request yourself, for example “Summarize this in Spanish”.
Where are the limits?
A summary leaves things out by design. Check deadlines, amounts and conditions in the original before you act on them. An explanation of a contract does not replace advice from a lawyer.
Very long selections are cut, and the card shows “truncated”; the answer then covers only the part that was sent. For long documents, attach the file, see Ask AI about files.
If you give “Summarize” or “Explain” a shortcut in the settings, the result replaces your selection, the same way Alt+3 does. Use the chips in the window if you want to keep the original text.
Related questions
Can I summarize a PDF or Word file?
Yes. Select the file in Explorer, press Alt+1 and click “Summarize”. See Ask AI about files.
Can I summarize a web page?
Select the text on the page, or the part you need, and press Alt+1. Zack KI reads what you selected, not the whole page.
Why is my summary only two sentences long?
Your answer length is set to “Minimal”. For longer summaries, choose “Short” or “Normal” under “Settings” → “General” → “Answer length”.
Can I change what “Summarize” does?
Yes. Edit its instruction under “Settings” → “Chips”, for example to “List the decisions and open tasks.” See Custom AI actions.