China leads world seeking AI patents - Arkansas' Best News Source
China has requested far more patents than any other country when it comes to generative AI, according to the U.N. intellectual property agency. The technology has the potential to increase efficiency and speed up scientific discoveries but also raises concerns about jobs and workers. The World Intellectual Property Organization reported that about 54,000 inventions in the decade through 2023 were linked to generative AI.
Explosive Growth in Generative AI
More than a quarter of those inventions emerged last year, showing the explosive growth and interest in the technology since generative AI gained broad public consciousness in late 2022, WIPO said.
Generative AI Tech Stack – A Comprehensive Guide
GenAI technology helps users create text, images, music, computer code, and other content through tools like ChatGPT from OpenAI, Google Gemini, and Ernie from China's Baidu. It has been utilized by various industries including life sciences, manufacturing, transportation, security, and telecommunications.
The new report on patents, the first of its kind, aims to track patent applications as an indication of trends in artificial intelligence. It focuses only on generative AI and excludes artificial intelligence more broadly, such as facial recognition or computer vision.
"WIPO hopes to give everyone a better understanding of where this fast-evolving technology is being developed, and where it is headed," WIPO Director-General Daren Tang told reporters.
Leading Countries in GenAI Inventions
Over the decade starting in 2014, more than 38,200 GenAI inventions came from China, which is six times more than the United States. South Korea, Japan, and India also contributed significantly to GenAI inventions.
What is generative AI, what are foundation models, and why do they matter
Some critics fear that GenAI could replace workers in certain jobs or improperly use human-generated content without fair compensation. WIPO officials acknowledge that the quantity of GenAI patents does not necessarily indicate quality, as it is still early to determine which patents will have market value or be transformative for society.
"Let's see how the data and developments unfold over time," Tang said.
US Leading in AI Development
The U.S. and China are often seen as rivals in AI development, with U.S. tech companies taking the lead in building cutting-edge AI systems. Notable machine-learning models and AI foundation models have emerged from the U.S., outpacing those from the European Union and China.
The U.S. has also led in private AI investments and the number of newly formed AI startups, while China has led in industrial robotics.
Information for this article was contributed by Matt O'Brien of The Associated Press.
