SHRM developed this guide using the same general-purpose AI tools it describes. The prompts are intended as starting points and may need to be adapted, reviewed, and validated for your specific use case.
AI can help you get more done with the HR work you already do, from drafting and summarizing to organizing information and generating ideas. But it does not know your organization, your people, your policies, or your obligations unless you provide that context. This prompt gives you a starting point, with space to add the unique information AI needs to support your work.
Prompt — Summarize Training Materials for Employees
Replace everything in brackets before you run it.
Summarize the attached training resource for [AUDIENCE — e.g., frontline managers with no HR background].
Produce four versions:
- ONE SENTENCE - what this is and why it matters to them.
- FIVE BULLETS - what they must know to do their job.
- ONE PAGE - a structured summary with headings, about 500 words.
- QUICK REFERENCE - a table of the decisions or steps they will need to look up later.
Rules:
- Use only what is in the source. Do not add outside context, industry best practice, or your own examples.
- Keep the source's own defined terms exactly. Do not substitute synonyms for terms the document defines.
- If the source is ambiguous or contradicts itself, flag it in a "Watch out" note rather than resolving it yourself.
- Name any section you could not summarize confidently, and why.
Write in plain, everyday language. Do not use jargon or invented terms; if a simpler word exists, use it.
[Optional, if available: give the AI your organization's style guide, brand voice guide, or writing standards document alongside this prompt so the output matches how we write.]
Check Before You Publish
Before you publish, review the AI-generated draft carefully. You are responsible for the final version.
- Check facts, figures, dates, requirements, and other details against the information you supplied or the original source.
- Paste in any legally required or compliance-sensitive language yourself. Do not let AI generate it.
- Confirm nothing was invented, assumed, or taken out of context.
- Verify that the final version reflects your organization, your audience, and the purpose of the work.
Use your judgement as an HR professional. AI can assist with the work, but you make the final call. Looking for more prompts? Explore the AI Prompts Guide for HR for more prompts and templates to support your HR work.
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