China has taken a commanding lead in the global race for generative AI patents, with companies like Tencent and Baidu at the forefront.
According to a recent United Nations report, China has filed six times more patents than its closest rival, the United States, over the past decade.
Key Takeaways
- China filed over 38,000 generative AI patents between 2014 and 2023, compared to 6,276 by the United States.
- Tencent and Baidu are among the top patent filers globally.
- Generative AI patents have surged, with a quarter of all patents filed in 2023 alone.
- South Korea, Japan, and India also feature prominently in the patent race.
China's Dominance in Generative AI Patents
China's dominance in the generative AI patent landscape is evident from the numbers. The country has filed more than 38,000 patents in the last decade, making up about 70% of the 54,000 patents filed globally. This is a significant lead over the United States, which has filed just over 6,000 patents in the same period.
The World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) report highlights that Chinese companies are leading the charge in various sectors, from autonomous driving to document management. Among the top applicants are Tencent, Ping An Insurance, Baidu, and the Chinese Academy of Sciences.
Rapid Growth and Future Prospects
The growth in generative AI patents has been exponential, particularly since the introduction of deep neural network architecture in 2017. The number of patents has increased by more than 800% through 2023. More than a quarter of all generative AI patents were filed in 2023 alone, indicating a booming area of technological innovation.
WIPO's Patent Analytics Manager, Christopher Harrison, noted that generative AI has the potential to transform various economic sectors, including science, publishing, transportation, and security. The report also predicts a further wave of patents to be filed soon, with generative AI expected to expedite drug development and automate document management tasks.
Global Landscape and Key Players
The global landscape of generative AI patents is not limited to China and the United States. South Korea, Japan, and India are also significant players, with India showing the fastest growth rate in patent filings. The top 10 applicants for generative AI patents include six Chinese organisations, such as Tencent, Baidu, and Alibaba, as well as American tech giants like IBM, Google, and Microsoft.
Technological Impact and Future Trends
Generative AI is a game-changing technology with the potential to revolutionise various industries. The WIPO report indicates that generative AI patents cover a broad range of applications, from life sciences to telecommunications. Image and video data dominate the patents, followed by text and speech or music.
The report also highlights the rapid growth in patents using molecule, gene, and protein-based data, which have seen a 78% average annual growth over the past five years. This trend suggests that generative AI will play a crucial role in the future of scientific research and development.
In conclusion, China's lead in the generative AI patent race underscores its commitment to technological innovation and its potential to shape the future of various industries. As generative AI continues to evolve, the global landscape of patent filings will likely see further shifts and developments.
Sources
- China leading generative AI patents race, UN report says | Reuters, Reuters.
- UN: China Leads World’s GenAI Patent Race, PYMNTS.com.
- Chinese generative AI patents top US 6-to-1 in last decade, UN data finds | South China Morning Post, South China Morning Post.
- China-based inventors lead on global GenAI patents: UN report | UN News, UN News.
- China Leading Generative AI Patents Race, UN Report Says - Sci En.tempo.co, Tempo.co English.
