OpenAI and Ironclad turn contracting workflows into agent training tasks, with Astra scoring 32% higher and using 48% less simulated time

What changed

OpenAI published a research collaboration with Ironclad on October 6 that turns 11 complex contracting workflows—including NDAs, procurement approvals and reusable legal clauses—into agent training and evaluation tasks. In OpenAI's research evaluation, GPT-6 Astra averaged 55.0% on the task rubrics versus 41.6% for GPT-5.6 Sol, while estimated time per attempt fell from 37.0 to 19.2 minutes. OpenAI explicitly cautions that the evaluation covers only these 11 research tasks and that the time figures are simulated estimates rather than measured customer time savings.