ChatGPT for YouTube: How to Summarize Videos, Extract Key Insights, and Automate A Workflow

Creators, researchers, and marketers are now using ChatGPT to summarize YouTube videos, extract timestamps, and even generate new content ideas from existing videos.

This guide explains the best ways to use ChatGPT for YouTube videos. From summarizing transcripts to repurposing content, plus some expert tips for automating your workflow.

How ChatGPT Summarizes YouTube Videos

ChatGPT cannot directly watch videos, but it can analyze YouTube transcripts, which contain the video’s full text. Once you provide that transcript (or a link to it), ChatGPT can generate short summaries, outlines, or action points.

Step-by-step process

1. Get the transcript

• Use a free site like YouTube Transcript or a Chrome extension such as YouTube Summary with ChatGPT.
• Copy the full transcript text.

2. Paste it into ChatGPT with a clear prompt:

• “Summarize this YouTube transcript into 5 bullet points that capture the main takeaways. Include timestamps if possible.”

3. Refine with follow-up prompts:

• “Make it sound like a social media summary.”
  “Create a blog outline from this video.”
  “Write a x thread summarizing the main arguments.”