AI-Assisted Form Fill

The AI-assisted form fill feature in Laserfiche forms lets you configure a file upload field so that values will be extracted from the uploaded document and populated in the fields on the same page of the form without manual user input, leveraging Laserfiche AI. You determine which file upload field starts extraction by marking it as an extraction source. For example, you may want to automatically extract applicant information from an uploaded resume, but have the applicant manually select the position they are applying for. This lets you reduce the time users spend manually filling in fields where the information is already present in a document, while still leaving appropriate field population decisions in the hands of users.

This document provides general information about the AI-assisted form fill capabilities. See Using AI-Assisted Form Fill in the Designer for specific instructions, examples, and best practices when using the feature.

Note: AI-assisted form fill may not be available for all customers. If you would like to have AI-assisted form fill enabled, speak with your admin or service provider for more information.

Note: AI-assisted form fill is not available in the classic form designer.

Configuring a file upload field as an extraction source

An extraction source is a file upload field that has been configured to start AI extraction. Only files uploaded to fields marked as an extraction source start AI population; uploading a file to a regular file upload field does not start extraction.

The basic setup for AI-assisted form fill:

Add a file upload field to your form.
Enable the Extract and fill fields with AI setting on that file upload field.
Place the fields you want AI to populate on the same page as the file upload field.
Publish and test the form with representative documents.

Note: Each AI extraction performed, whether successful or not, decrements the available AI Units. AI extraction is not available in form previews.

Filling out a form with AI-populated fields

When a user uploads a file to an extraction-source file upload field, Laserfiche AI reads the file, attempting to extract as many values as it can. Once the extraction process ends, the file will be displayed as uploaded. The uploaded file row will display one of three status messages: extraction complete, no fields matched, or extraction failed. When an extraction fails, a tooltip lets the user see error messages that may help with troubleshooting. When successful, all possible fields will be populated with values from the document. The user can then review the populated values, correct anything inaccurate, complete the remaining fields, and submit the form. Even if the extraction is unsuccessful, the uploaded file will be included with the submission.

The uploaded file is still handled like a normal form file upload. Enabling extraction does not change how the file is stored, submitted, or retrieved once the form is submitted.

Field types eligible for AI population

Laserfiche AI can populate all basic read/write fields on the same page as the extraction source, including every field in the Basic section of the toolbox:

Basic text fields like: Single-line text, Multi-line text, and Email
Number and Currency
Date/time and Time
Checkbox, Radio button, and Drop-down

Fields inside containers, such as sections, collections, and tables, are also eligible when they are on the same page as the extraction source. AI will create additional new rows and fields within tables and collections as needed for information extracted, skipping lookup-filled and head rows. Fields that have already been completed and read-only fields will not be populated by AI. Radio button and checkbox values are constrained to the existing option list unless the Add 'Other' choice option has been enabled. Drop-down lists are restricted to the values in the list.

Using pages for document types

The AI can only fill fields on the page that contains file upload fields that are specified as extraction sources. If a file is uploaded to an extraction source field on Page 1, AI only considers fields on Page 1; fields on Page 2 are not populated by that source file. This keeps extraction and field completion predictable and limits the amount of form data sent with each request. Place the extraction source upload field and the fields you want populated on the same page. This can be useful if a form will need information from multiple types of documents that have distinct data points to be collected.

A form page can include more than one extraction-source file upload field. Each upload starts its own extraction request. If more than one extraction source is on one page and similar data exists in multiple files, the last-started extraction will overwrite any fields filled by earlier extractions.

Non-destructive field population

Laserfiche AI is designed to avoid overwriting information entered by users:

AI does not clear a field to empty.
AI does not write to read-only fields.
AI can populate empty fields when it finds a match including hidden fields. This includes fields cleared by a user.
AI can overwrite values it previously populated, as long as the user has not edited the field value.
Once a user edits a field value, AI treats that value as user-owned and does not overwrite it.
AI can populate fields containing default values or values populated by a rule.