Explain selected text with the Automatio Chrome extension
Highlight a paragraph, technical term, or phrase and get a clear explanation from the AI in your side panel. You can right-click the text or use the selection shortcut in chat to clarify complex topics while you read.
What to ask
Type it in the Automatio side panel in Chrome, with the page open. Send it as written, or change the details to fit your case.
Explain the @selection in plain English. If there is technical jargon, define it simply and tell me how this concept relates to the overall topic of the [current article].
How it works
- 1
Install and sign in
Add Automatio AI from the Chrome Web Store and log into your Automatio account to enable the side panel.
- 2
Select your text
Highlight the specific sentence, word, or paragraph on the web page that you want the AI to explain.
- 3
Send to Automatio
Right-click the highlighted text and choose
Ask Automatioto open the side panel with your selection ready for a prompt. - 4
Request an explanation
Type your question in the chat using
@selectionto reference your text, then press enter to receive the AI response.
What you get
The agent provides a text explanation directly in the side panel. It breaks down the meaning and context of your highlighted text according to your instructions. You should check the response against the rest of the page to ensure the AI correctly interpreted the specific context of the selection.
Good to know
- Asking the agent to explain text uses your Automatio account credits.
- The extension cannot read text from a PDF open in the Chrome PDF viewer (use a screenshot instead).
- It does not function on chrome:// pages or the Chrome Web Store.
- Text selections are sent to the AI models to generate the explanation.
Variations to try
Simplify complex jargon
Explain this @selection to me like I am a beginner. Avoid technical terms and use a simple analogy.
Extract key takeaways
What are the three most important points mentioned in this @selection? Format them as a short list.
Translate and clarify
Translate this @selection into French and explain the meaning of any local idioms used in the text.
Questions
Does explaining text cost credits?
Yes, every time you ask the agent to process a selection, it uses credits from your Automatio account. The amount used depends on the AI model you choose in the agent menu.
Can I explain text inside a PDF?
The extension cannot read text directly in Chrome's built-in PDF viewer. To explain text in a PDF, use @screenshot to capture the visible part of the document and ask the agent to describe or explain the text in the image.
Is my selection data private?
The extension only sends the text you specifically select and your prompt to the AI. It does not send other page data unless you explicitly use markers like @page or @url in your request.
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