The legal technology sector is undergoing a significant transformation as artificial intelligence moves beyond mere assistance to actively executing complex tasks. This shift is exemplified by the rebranding of NLPatent to Clerq, an AI startup that today launched new "agentic" workflows designed to automate the traditionally time-consuming process of patent research. The move highlights a growing trend where AI is not just summarizing information but performing end-to-end professional work, promising to dramatically increase efficiency in specialized fields.

Clerq, formerly known as NLPatent, is introducing agentic AI workflows that can complete a full patentability analysis in approximately ten minutes. This process, which typically demands days or even weeks of manual effort from legal professionals, now delivers comprehensive reports with citations. The company's proprietary large language models, developed specifically for patent data, are at the core of this capability, allowing the system to understand and interpret nuanced patent language.

The platform offers two primary workflows: a rapid triage assessment for screening high volumes of invention disclosures and a detailed patentability report that includes feature-by-feature reasoning and cited references. According to CEO and co-founder Stephanie Curcio, this represents a shift from "software-as-a-service" to "service as software," where AI agents perform the work under professional direction. This approach aims to free up legal experts from repetitive tasks, allowing them to focus on higher-value strategic work.

Clerq's technology builds upon NLPatent's established AI-powered patent research engine, which has been used by law firms, corporate IP departments, and universities. The rebrand and new offerings come at a time when patent offices globally are facing increasing backlogs, partly due to the surge in generative AI-related patent applications. By automating the research phase, Clerq seeks to alleviate this pressure and accelerate the innovation cycle.

This development signals a broader evolution in how professional services, particularly those involving extensive data analysis and documentation like legal and intellectual property, will be delivered. The introduction of agentic AI workflows by Clerq demonstrates a clear path towards more autonomous AI systems that can handle complex, multi-step processes, setting a new benchmark for efficiency in the legal tech landscape.