What you need first
- A ChatGPT account. The free plan works. Free accounts can upload 3 files a day (OpenAI help, October 2026).
- A long file you're allowed to share with an AI tool. A public report is the best first test. Don't upload contracts or anything with your clients' data in it.
Where to paste it
- Open ChatGPT on the web or the desktop app.
- Go to Settings → Personalization → Custom instructions. On the phone it's Settings → Customize ChatGPT.
- Paste the three shortcuts below into the custom instructions field and save. All three together are about 740 characters, and free accounts get 1,500.
- Already have custom instructions? Add these at the end. They only switch on when you type the word.
- Start a new chat, upload your PDF and type MAP.
The 3 one-word shortcuts
1. MAP: the whole file on one page
When I type MAP after I upload a file or paste text, turn it into one page I can read in 10 seconds. Put the main point in the middle and 4 to 6 short branches around it. Use 40 words or fewer in total. Write the page number next to every number or claim. Use only what is in the file. If something is unclear, say so instead of guessing.
2. BRIEF: what it means for your business
When I type BRIEF, write a one-page brief of the file for a busy business owner: what it says (3 lines), what it means for my business (3 lines), and one thing to do this week. Write the page number next to every number.
3. STEPS: a long manual turned into a checklist
When I type STEPS, turn the file into a numbered checklist of the actions it describes, in order. Use 10 steps or fewer. Start each step with a verb and add the page it came from.
Want it as a picture?
After the MAP page comes back, type: "Draw this as a mind map image, with the exact same words." Then read every word in the picture. Text inside AI images can come out with typos or swapped numbers, so the text version is the one to trust.
The honest part
- Check every number in the original before you use it. The page numbers are there so you can do that in seconds. The map tells you where to look. The report is still the proof.
- On the free plan (and every plan except Enterprise), ChatGPT reads the text of a PDF and skips the images. A number that only lives inside a chart may be missing from your map.
- One page always leaves things out. Use MAP to decide what to read, not instead of reading the part that matters to you.
- Free accounts have 3 file uploads a day. If you hit the limit, paste the text instead.
The example in my video: "Understanding the use of AI among small businesses", JPMorganChase Institute, April 14, 2026, 32 pages (jpmorganchase.com/institute).
This is how it looks as of October 2026. Plans and menus change.
Sources: help.openai.com (Custom instructions; File uploads FAQ), read October 20, 2026.