NetDocuments has announced enhancements to its document management system, revealing new AI-powered document profiling capabilities alongside the company’s first agentic AI tool designed for editing documents directly within Microsoft Word. This development marks an important step in the company’s initiative to integrate artificial intelligence more deeply into legal workflows without compromising on security and governance standards.
The feature, AI Profiling, is a background application that automates metadata extraction from legal documents, eliminating the need for manual intervention. It can identify document types and extract essential details such as parties, dates, and payment terms, organizing the content according to parameters defined by individual firms. Dan Hauck, Chief Product Officer at NetDocuments, emphasized the importance of having structured and secure content, noting how AI Profiling can customize metadata extraction according to a firm’s needs. For more on Hauck’s perspective, listen to the LawNext Podcast.
At a media briefing, Scott Kelly, NetDocuments’ head of AI, demonstrated the system’s capability to process multiple documents simultaneously, by extracting and populating metadata fields from complex legal documents. Using examples like licensing agreements and non-disclosure agreements, Kelly demonstrated how the AI tool can extract intricate information, such as specific fees, from extensive contract language.
Building upon this, NetDocuments also introduced Background Apps, automations that work continuously to enhance content through its lifecycle. This allows firms to apply AI capabilities at a large scale without disrupting daily operations by automating various processes such as data extraction from contracts and onboarding workflows.
In parallel, the company launched its first agentic AI tool for document editing. This tool enables users to perform specific document editing tasks within Microsoft Word through plain-language instructions, which could include updating pricing terms or standardizing language across agreements. This shift from conversational AI interfaces to task-oriented agents facilitates a more action-oriented approach within document workflows. The tool is expected to be the first of many in the company’s broader vision for a comprehensive Legal AI Assistant.
NetDocuments further expanded its integration with Microsoft 365, enhancing workflow efficiency by allowing users to access the document management system directly through Word’s file management interface. This development aims to reduce the need for frequent application switching, a common concern among legal professionals who spend a significant amount of time using Word.
Company CEO Josh Baxter framed these updates within a broader context, stressing the need to embed AI capabilities within existing workflows to drive transformation within the legal sector. For additional insights from Baxter, listen to his discussion on the LawNext Podcast.
To learn more about NetDocuments’ new features, visit their official announcement.