GENEVA – China has emerged as the global leader in generative AI patents, filing six times more than the United States, according to a United Nations report released on Wednesday.
Generative AI, which creates text, images, computer code, and music from existing data, has seen a surge in innovation. Over the past decade, more than 50,000 patent applications have been filed, with a quarter of these submitted in 2023 alone, according to the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO).
“This is a booming area that is growing at an increasing speed, and we expect it to expand even further,” said Christopher Harrison, WIPO Patent Analytics Manager, during a press briefing.
Between 2014 and 2023, China filed over 38,000 generative AI patents, significantly outpacing the United States, which filed 6,276 patents in the same period. China’s patents cover a wide range of sectors, from autonomous driving to publishing and document management.
South Korea, Japan, and India rank third, fourth, and fifth, respectively, with India showing the fastest growth rate in patent filings.
Leading applicants include China’s ByteDance, owner of TikTok; Chinese e-commerce giant Alibaba Group; and Microsoft, a supporter of OpenAI, the creator of ChatGPT.
Generative AI’s applications extend beyond chatbots, which are already enhancing customer service in retail. According to WIPO, the technology has the potential to revolutionize various industries, including science, publishing, transportation, and security. Harrison specifically noted the potential impact on the scientific sector, where AI-generated molecules could speed up drug development.
“The patent data indicates that generative AI will have a profound impact across many industrial sectors,” Harrison said.
WIPO anticipates a further surge in patent filings and plans to release an updated report, potentially utilizing generative AI to highlight the trends.
