IBM, Google, and Microsoft lead in the race for patents related to generative artificial intelligence (GenAI), according to a study by IFI Claims, a trusted patent data provider. IBM tops the list with 1,591 GenAI patent applications, three times more than Google, which holds the second position. Other companies in the top 10 include Samsung, Adobe, Intel, Capital One, and Baidu. The study reveals that one in five AI-related patent applications focuses on GenAI, with a compound annual growth rate of 31% over the past five years, indicating a significant interest and research intensity in the AI sector.
Despite being a prominent player in the AI field, OpenAI, the owner of ChatGPT, is not among the top 25 companies, with only one patent application, suggesting potential reliance on trade secrets or undisclosed recent filings. The study underscores the importance of patent applications as indicators of innovation and future technological value, reflecting the ongoing AI push by companies and highlighting the anticipation of increased AI innovation in the future. As AI adoption rates remain relatively low, the high number of patent applications indicates a strong focus on AI research and development across industries.
