Genius Mode in the Word Add-In

Genius Mode brings multi-step, iterative editing to the August Word Add-in. Instead of a single instruction with one set of edits, you can work back and forth, adjusting direction mid-task until the document is right. It handles Word formatting directly and can read from an entire matter folder, making it suited for complex drafting and reformatting tasks.

This video demonstrates Genius Mode capabilities in the Word Add-in.

How Genius Mode Differs from Regular Editing

The standard Word Add-in workflow gives you one instruction and one set of edits. If you need to adjust direction or refine the output, you start over. Genius Mode removes that constraint.

With Genius Mode:

• You give an instruction, and it delivers a round of suggested edits as tracked changes

• Each edit can be Dismissed, Applied, or Applied with comment individually

• You can give follow-up instructions mid-task, such as "make the tone more formal" or "translate this to Spanish"

• The next round adjusts based on what you changed and what you said

This conversation-style workflow lets you course-correct without restarting. Change your mind halfway through, and Genius Mode follows.

The Dismiss/Apply/Apply with Comment Pattern

Genius Mode presents edits as tracked changes. You review each suggestion and decide whether it stays.

• Dismiss rejects the suggested edit. The change is removed from consideration.

• Apply accepts the edit. It appears in your document as a tracked change ready for final review.

• Apply with comment accepts the edit and inserts a Word comment explaining the change. This option appears when the edit includes a rationale or explanation, and Word supports comments in the current context.

Comments inserted via Apply with comment preserve the reasoning behind each edit, making it easier to communicate changes to collaborators or to review your own decision trail later.

You remain in control of what enters the document. The iterative pattern continues until you are satisfied with the result.

Redlines vs Direct Mode on Proposal Cards

When Genius Mode presents proposed edits, you choose how they are applied to your document:

• Redlines — Edits appear as tracked changes in Word, visible in the Review pane with insertions and deletions marked. This is the default and preserves a full audit trail of all changes.

• Direct — Edits are applied directly to the document without tracked changes. Use this when you want a clean final version without revision history markup.

The choice appears on each proposal card. You can switch between Redlines and Direct for different rounds of edits within the same session. For example, you might start with Redlines to review initial suggestions, then switch to Direct for final polish when the content is settled.

When to Use Each

• Use Redlines when you want to review each change before accepting it, share markups with colleagues, or maintain an audit trail for negotiations.

• Use Direct when you are confident the edits are ready for the final document, you want a clean copy without revision history, or you are producing a polished deliverable for a client.

How Document Changes Are Tracked

Genius Mode tracks the changes you make to your document so that follow-up instructions work with your current content, not an outdated snapshot. As you type, delete, or edit paragraphs, those changes are captured and reflected in the next round of suggestions.

This means:

• If you edit the document while Genius Mode is working, your edits are reflected in subsequent rounds.

• Deleted paragraphs are handled cleanly — you will not see empty "Deleted: " entries in conversation history.

• When you resume a conversation after stopping or closing Word, the document state is synchronized with the conversation, so resumed instructions work from the current content.

Stopping and Resuming a Task

If you need to pause an editing session, you can stop a task mid-run. Genius Mode preserves your place so you can resume later without losing context.

When you stop:

• The conversation and document state are synchronized, so your current progress is saved.

• Any edits already applied remain in your document.

• The processing indicator returns to a ready state, indicating Genius Mode is waiting for your next instruction.

When you resume:

• Your prior instructions, tool results, and document context are restored.

• You can continue with follow-up directions without restating what came before.

This synchronization ensures that long editing sessions stay consistent even if you step away, close Word, or switch tasks.

Work With All Your Files at Once

Genius Mode can read from multiple documents at once. Attach an entire matter folder, and it searches for relevant sections and pulls from the full picture.

Inputs you can combine:

• Firm templates and precedent agreements

• Opposing counsel's redline

• Prior drafts

• Client term sheets

For more on attaching files and folders to your context, see Assistant Overview.

Richer Document Understanding

Genius Mode reads the structure and formatting of your Word document, not just the text. This deeper understanding enables more accurate edits that preserve your document's layout and conventions.

Elements August can understand include:

• Lists and numbering — numbered sections, lettered sub-clauses, bulleted lists, and nested structures

• Tables — table structure and cell content

• Outline levels — headings and document hierarchy

• Fields — cross-references, dates, and other Word fields

• Footnotes and endnotes — reference markers and their content

• Images and embedded objects — presence and placement

• Formatting — bold, italics, defined terms, and paragraph-level styling

For large or complex documents, August may summarize the context to focus on the sections most relevant to your current task. This richer document understanding is specific to the Word Add-in editing workflow.

Formatting Handled Directly

Previous Word Add-in edits were limited to plain text. Lists, styles, and structural changes required manual reformatting.

Genius Mode handles Word formatting directly. Output arrives already formatted, including:

• Numbered sections and lettered sub-clauses

• Bold defined terms

• Bulleted lists

• Structured layouts matching your template

The result is ready for your review, not your rework.

Citation Navigation

When Genius Mode references a specific part of your document or an attached source, you can navigate directly to that location. Clicking a citation jumps to the referenced paragraph, heading, or section.

Citation navigation remains responsive even while edits are being applied. You can move through the document to verify sources or check context without waiting for pending edits to complete.

If a specific paragraph target is not found, August searches for the nearest matching heading or section to get you close to the intended location.

Handling Edit Failures

Occasionally, an edit cannot be applied—for example, when the target text has changed or a protected element is in the way. When this happens, Genius Mode surfaces a clear explanation of what went wrong.

Common situations and what to do:

• Target text not found — The passage you wanted to edit has moved or been modified. Re-select the text or describe the new location, then try again.

• Protected element — The edit targets a field, bookmark, or other protected Word element. Remove or unlock the protection, then retry.

• Formatting conflict — The edit would break cross-references or document structure. Review the conflict message, adjust your instruction, or accept the edit manually in Word.

Previously reviewed edits—those you have already applied or dismissed—are remembered across sessions. If you reload the document or return to the task later, those decisions remain visible, so you do not need to review the same suggestions twice.

Example Workflows

Genius Mode is built for tasks that benefit from iteration and multiple inputs:

• Draft a new agreement from a firm template. Attach your standard NDA, give one instruction, and receive a complete agreement with numbered sections, sub-clauses, and bold defined terms matching your template's conventions.

• Reformat an existing agreement. Standardize inconsistent headings, defined terms, sub-clauses, and fonts across a document in one pass.

• Translate a contract while preserving structure. Maintain numbered clauses, cross-references, and formatting when converting to another language.

• Tighten language across a lease or engagement letter. Refine phrasing while keeping structure intact.

• Draft a memo from multiple documents in a matter. Pull from several source files to generate a first-pass work product.

• Convert a marked-up draft into clean copy. Take a redline and produce a consistent, formatted version.

When to Use Genius Mode

Use Genius Mode when your task involves:

• Multiple rounds of refinement

• More than one source document

• Structural edits such as reordering sections or reformatting

• Working from templates or precedent language

For simpler edits where you need a single pass, the standard Word Add-in workflow may be faster.

Prerequisites

Before using Genius Mode in Word, ensure the Word Add-in is installed and you are signed in. See Word Add-In Overview for setup instructions.

To work from firm templates or precedent agreements, see Word Add-In Overview.