WIPO Patent Landscape Report: Generative Artificial Intelligence

World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) has recently published a Patent Landscape Report that provides observations on patenting activity and scientific publications in the field of Generative Artificial Intelligence (GenAI). 

GenAI is poised to significantly impact various real-world applications and industries. As such, understanding technological trends in the field is crucial for adapting business and intellectual property (IP) strategies. This report aims to shed light on the current state of technology development, the evolving dynamics within the field, and the applications where GenAI technologies are anticipated to be utilised. Additionally, it identifies key research locations, companies, and organisations involved in GenAI advancements.

Between 2014 and 2023, China has emerged as a dominant force in GenAI innovation, producing over 38,000 inventions—six times more than the United States, which holds the second position. India, ranked as the fifth-largest contributor to GenAI inventions, has shown the highest average annual growth rate among the top five leaders, at 56%. The impact of GenAI is already evident across diverse industries such as life sciences, manufacturing, transportation, security, and telecommunications, as indicated by the report. The United Kingdom is the leading European location (sixth globally), with 714 patents published in the same period. However, Germany is close behind (708 patent families) and has published more GenAI patents than the UK in recent years. These top inventor locations account for the majority (94%) of global patenting activity related to GenAI.