OpenAI Debuts Astra for Law, Deepening Legal AI Race
OpenAI has released Astra for Law, a legal-focused version of its GPT-6 Astra model, intensifying competition among AI labs for law firm customers.
OpenAI on Thursday unveiled Astra for Law, a legal industry-focused version of its latest AI model, GPT-6 Astra, aimed at helping law firms and legal software providers conduct research, draft advice and build custom applications for lawyers.
The product pairs the Astra model with an index of US case law, statutes, regulations and other legal materials, along with specialised instructions for legal analysis and writing. Legal AI vendors including Harvey and Legora will be able to build products on the platform, which will also integrate with software providers such as Relativity, Clio, Intapp and Thomson Reuters.
The launch is the latest move by a major AI lab into the legal market, where technology companies are competing for business from law firms and legal departments. Google expanded its Gemini Enterprise offerings for legal professionals last month, while Anthropic has released tools for lawyers using its Claude assistant since January.
Competition is also building among legal information providers. Thomson Reuters, which owns Westlaw and Reuters, launched an AI model last month called Thomson 1.0, trained on its legal research content and built for professional work. The company said the model is built on open-source technology and draws on decades of its own legal content.
OpenAI said selected law firms will initially gain access to Astra for Law through a special programme that includes protections for confidential client work. The company said it worked with firms including Sullivan & Cromwell, Ropes & Gray, Cooley, Latham & Watkins and Wachtell Lipton on testing and developing legal AI applications.