An overwhelming majority of international patents related to the innovative use of generative artificial intelligence (genAI) have been filed by inventors from various countries, as reported by a recent UN study.
Between 2014 and 2023, approximately 54,000 patents were filed worldwide related to genAI, including more than 38,000 from China. This significant figure puts China far ahead of the United States, which ranks second with 6,276 patents. South Korea follows closely behind in third place with 4,155 patents, and Japan in fourth place with 3,409 patents.
Surprisingly, the top four spots in the ranking of the largest number of patents filed are all held by Chinese companies: Tencent, Ping AI Insurance, Baidu and the Chinese Academy of Sciences. American giant IBM notably occupies fifth place in the ranking.
According to the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO), annual general AI-related patent filings worldwide have increased eightfold since 2017. Last year alone, a quarter of all genAI patents filed in the past decade were filed.
While genAI patents currently account for 6% of all AI-related patents, their share is growing rapidly. The technology finds applications in a variety of industrial and consumer products, including chatbots like Google’s ChatGPT and Gemini.
Artificial Intelligence Innovations Are Transforming Global Markets
The rise of artificial intelligence (AI) innovations across the world has reshaped many industries, with genAI at the forefront of cutting-edge developments. Despite the impressive number of patents filed in recent years, there are still many fascinating aspects of this technological landscape to explore.
Key questions:
1. What is driving the dominance of Chinese entities in genAI patent filings?
– Chinese companies have been proactive in research and development, supported by government initiatives and investments in AI technologies.
2. What impact do genAI patents have on international collaboration and competition?
– The concentration of patents among specific countries and companies raises questions about fair access to AI innovations and potential geopolitical implications.
4. What are the main challenges facing genAI technologies?
– One challenge is to ensure responsible use of AI, taking into account ethical considerations, data privacy and potential biases in AI algorithms.
Advantages and disadvantages:
Next-generation AI innovations offer many benefits, such as increased productivity, personalized services, and advances in healthcare and automation. However, they also come with challenges, including job displacement, security risks, and the risk that AI will amplify existing social inequalities.
As the world enters a new era of AI-driven progress, managing these pros and cons will be essential to harnessing the full potential of genAI technologies.
For more information on global AI trends and emerging innovations, visit the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) website.
