How to summarize a long video with AI
To summarize a long video with AI, paste the YouTube link or upload the file in Vidective AI, keep Summarized mode on, optionally type a question such as what decisions were made, and press Summarize. You get a written summary or a direct answer to your question.
Decide whether you want a summary or an answer
Summarized mode answers whatever you type. You can ask for a broad summary of the main points, or a narrow question such as what the speaker recommends for beginners.
A narrow question usually gives a more useful answer than a general summary, especially for a video that is an hour or longer.
Step by step
- Paste the YouTube link on the YouTube URL tab, or choose Upload File and pick your video.
- Type what you want to know in the second box.
- Keep Summarized selected.
- Press Summarize. If you are not signed in, a free account takes a few seconds to create.
- Read the answer. If you need the exact time of a point it mentions, switch to Timestamped mode and search for that point.
Good things to ask
- Summarize the main points in five bullets.
- List every action item and who owns it. This works well for meeting recordings.
- What are the three main arguments, and what evidence is given for each?
- Explain the part about pricing in simple terms.
- What questions did the audience ask?
How long a video it can handle
The limits depend on the plan. These are the current figures.
| Free account | Pro | |
|---|---|---|
| YouTube video, Summarized mode | Up to 60 minutes | Up to about 4 hours 6 minutes |
| Uploaded video | Up to 10 minutes | Up to about 2 hours 40 minutes |
| YouTube analyses a day | 2 | 10 |
| Uploads a day | 2 | 10 |
Know the limits of an AI summary
An AI summary is a fast first pass. It can miss nuance or something that is mentioned only briefly. When a detail matters, jump to that point in the video and check it yourself, and for anything important such as legal, medical or financial decisions, rely on the source and not the summary.
Questions people ask
Can it summarize a video without captions?
Yes, but videos with clear speech and a transcript give the best results. With poor audio or no transcript, some details are harder to pick up.
Can I summarize a lecture or meeting recording that I have as a file?
Yes. Choose Upload File and select the video. Common formats such as MP4, MOV and WebM work, and the uploaded video is deleted right after the analysis.
Does the summary include timestamps?
Summarized mode gives a written answer. For the exact time of each point, use Timestamped mode and describe the point you want.
Is it free?
Creating an account is free and includes 2 YouTube analyses and 2 uploads a day. Pro is for longer videos and higher limits.