China rules the world of generative AI, six times the patents of the US!
China is the leader in the number of patents related to generative artificial intelligence (AI), according to a UN report. Between 2014 and 2023, more than 38,000 patents on generative AI came from China, about six times the number of patents filed in the United States, which came in second place.
Overall, more than 54,000 patents related to generative AI were filed during that period, according to the report. China accounted for 38,210 patents, while the United States had 6,286. South Korea ranked third, followed by Japan and India.
Generative AI refers to systems that can produce output in the form of text or images in response to user input based on large amounts of training data. The technology has become widely known, particularly through the free availability of ChatGPT, a chat program developed by OpenAI with support from Microsoft. “Generative AI has become a game-changing technology with the potential to fundamentally impact the way we work, live and spend our leisure time,” said Daren Tang, Director General of the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO). WIPO hopes that analysis of patent data will help shed light on where this technology is going and where it is headed. “This can help policymakers shape the development of generative AI for the benefit of society as a whole and ensure that people remain at the centre of our innovation and creation systems,” the WIPO chief added.
However, Nestor Maslej, an analyst at Stanford University’s Human-Assisted Artificial Intelligence (HAI) Institute, warns that patent analysis does not provide a complete picture of the state of generative AI. “A very important question is who is releasing the best models based on generative AI and where these models are coming from. In this respect, the United States seems to have a really big lead,” Maslej added.
The WIPO report underscores the importance of generative AI on a global scale and highlights how critical it is for countries and companies to adapt to a rapidly evolving technological environment. Increasingly, generative AI technology is gaining ground in a variety of fields, from entertainment to healthcare to education and marketing, and is thus a significant driver of innovation. For example, OpenAI’s ChatGPT, which has gained popularity among users due to its ability to generate human-sounding text, demonstrates how broadly and deeply generative AI can impact everyday life.
As a result of these trends, WIPO is calling on policymakers and regulators to address not only the technological, but also the ethical and social aspects of generative AI. This includes protecting intellectual property, ensuring fair access to technology and minimising negative impacts on employment and privacy. As the technology advances, it is essential that legal and regulatory frameworks keep pace with its development and ensure that the benefits of generative AI are shared across society while the risks are effectively managed.
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