How to Use PDFs and Docs with Steve

Introduction

Handling PDFs and documents consumes time unless you apply tools that read, summarize, and act on them. Steve, an AI Operating System, brings a conversational, file-aware interface that turns static files into actionable work items. Use Steve to ingest PDFs and docs, extract the right information, and close the loop with contextual replies, edits, and automated follow-ups.

Upload, Ingest, and Understand

Start by uploading PDFs, Word docs, or images into Steve Chat. Steve’s file-aware chat accepts these formats and immediately applies natural-language parsing so you can ask targeted questions about content instead of hunting through pages. In practice: drop a 30-page contract into Steve, ask “What are the termination clauses and notice periods?” and get a concise extraction with quoted clauses and page pointers. When files live in Google Drive or Gmail, Steve’s direct integrations fetch the latest version so your queries use current context.

Why this matters: parsing with an AI OS removes manual skimming and reduces missed details—especially on dense legal, technical, or research documents.

Summarize, Question, and Draft from Files

Once Steve summarizes a PDF or doc, you can iterate conversationally. Ask to shorten the summary, produce bullet-point action items, or translate dense sections into plain language for stakeholders. For example, convert a technical spec into a two-paragraph executive summary or ask Steve to generate a checklist of deliverables from a project brief.

Use cases that save time:

• Research teams: convert literature PDFs into annotated summaries and extract experimental methods.

• Product managers: transform requirement docs into prioritized tasks and suggested user stories.

• Legal ops: summarize amendments and highlight risk areas for counsel review.

Steve’s conversational interface and advanced AI agents let you refine drafts in-line. Ask for tone adjustments, add citations from the original file, or request alternative phrasings that align with your company voice.

Edit, Collaborate, and Export

Editing documents in Steve is iterative and collaborative. Pull a section into chat, request consolidated edits, then apply them back to the source document or export the refined copy. For collaborative reviews, share the chat thread or export annotated PDFs. When an email or action is required, use Steve’s AI Email to draft context-aware replies that reference document excerpts and proposed next steps.

Practical flows:

• Extract tables from a PDF and ask Steve to format them into a spreadsheet-ready CSV.

• Draft a response to a contract negotiation directly from the annotated clauses and send it via AI Email with suggested negotiation bullets.

• Create a discussion brief for stakeholders by combining highlights from multiple docs into a single, shareable summary.

These flows reduce context switching: edit, iterate, and communicate without leaving the AI OS.

Automate Context and Keep Threads Intact

Steve’s shared memory system preserves context across chats and tools so documents don’t exist as one-off conversations. Memory lets multiple AI agents reference prior decisions, earlier file versions, and ongoing tasks. That means when a revised spec is uploaded, Steve recognizes previous summaries and can generate a changelog of what differs.

Couple memory with integrations: link Gmail, Drive, or Notion sources so updates cascade through your workspace. For example, a new contract upload can trigger a prompt to create task cards, notify reviewers via AI Email, and store an audit trail in the project thread. These automations convert static file handling into continuous workflows.

Steve

Steve is an AI-native operating system designed to streamline business operations through intelligent automation. Leveraging advanced AI agents, Steve enables users to manage tasks, generate content, and optimize workflows using natural language commands. Its proactive approach anticipates user needs, facilitating seamless collaboration across various domains, including app development, content creation, and social media management.

Conclusion

Using PDFs and docs with Steve changes them from inert files into living inputs for work. The AI OS reads and summarizes content, supports iterative drafting and edits through a conversational interface, and ties everything together with shared memory and integrated email. For teams that need faster review cycles, clearer handoffs, and fewer manual steps, Steve provides a single, contextual workspace to handle documents end-to-end.