This blog post explains what to do when an AI assistant reports it cannot retrieve an article from a link — a common situation that frustrates users and slows workflows.
I’ll walk through the typical reasons an assistant might fail to access content, simple steps you can take immediately, and best practices for providing the text so the AI can generate accurate summaries or analyses.
Why an AI assistant might be unable to retrieve an article
When an assistant responds with a message like “I wasn’t able to retrieve the article text from that link,” it doesn’t necessarily mean the model is broken.
There are several technical and legal reasons that can block access.
Common causes include paywalls, website blocks, JavaScript-driven content that requires a real browser, robots.txt restrictions, or the assistant’s browsing capability being disabled by policy or configuration.
In many cases the assistant is explicitly prevented from scraping or storing copyrighted material, which is why it asks you to paste the text instead.
Immediate steps you can take
If you need a summary quickly, the fastest route is to provide the article content directly.
Below are practical, low-friction options depending on the article’s format and your permissions.
Best practices for sharing content with an AI
To get the most accurate and useful output, follow a few simple guidelines when you provide article text.
These practices help the model understand context, respect copyright, and tailor the result to your needs.
Be explicit about your goal — do you want a 10-sentence summary, key takeaways, a headline rewrite, or an expert critique?
The more specific your request, the better the result. Also indicate any tone or audience constraints (e.g., “make it suitable for policymakers”).
What to include when pasting text
When you paste the article, include a brief note with:
Legal and ethical considerations
Always respect copyright and platform terms of service.
If the article is behind a paywall or marked proprietary, ensure you have rights to share the text before pasting it into any third-party system.
Many AI platforms are designed to avoid storing or reusing user-provided copyrighted text beyond the requested operation, but it’s your responsibility to confirm that for the tool you’re using.
Closing guidance
If you encounter a “cannot retrieve” message from an AI assistant, don’t panic — it’s a common and often resolvable issue.
Paste the article text or provide an accessible alternative.
Tell the assistant exactly what you want, and include any constraints.
I’m ready to create a precise 10-sentence summary or any other deliverable once you paste the content.
Here is the source article for this story: A forming tropical storm could threaten the Southeast next week