Should we use AI in IP?

Spending the last few years in IP, I can clearly see that time and time again, clients are trying to find quicker ways to innovate. This has consequently led to an increasing amount of conversation around AI.

I know what you’re thinking, that’s crazy, we can’t rely on robots to do the job but… that isn’t strictly so true. Regardless, AI has stormed into the intellectual property scene like a tech-savvy tornado, and we're here to break down the good and the bad. Let's dive in!

Looking at the pros, the main ones we can see are:

1. Speed - AI is like the Flash on caffeine when it comes to processing and analysing large amounts of data. It can review documents, patents, trademarks, and copyrights at a speed humans could only dream of. So, what took days can now be done in minutes.
2. Reduction in error - Say goodbye to typos and human errors. AI is more reliable in detecting inconsistencies and anomalies in legal documents. Precision is the key point here. This can surprisingly be seen in medical studies too where it is seen that the AI is proven to be more compassionate than medical professionals themselves. You can find studies of this here.

However, we’d be lying if we said there weren’t cons to this:

1. Garbage In, Garbage Out - AI is only as good as the data you feed it. If the input data is flawed or biased, the AI's output could be too. It might not grasp the nuances and context that a human could. Lucky for you, we look at our patent database so you can ensure the data isn’t garbage.
2. Initial Costs- Setting up AI systems can burn a hole in your pocket. Training models, implementing software, and maintaining the tech requires a huge chunk of change.

So, there you have it. AI in intellectual property can be both a superhero and a supervillain, depending on how you wield it. Ultimately, do not be afraid of it. It is virtually impossible at the moment for AI to replace the human element of IP (You can stop holding your breath now).

We shouldn’t be afraid to use AI in assistance to our daily work when understanding patents, but it is just a means of assistance and can’t actually do the analysis and deep dive that people can do. Essentially, we need to supervise AI - While AI is flashy, don't blindly trust it. Have human oversight to catch any odd pieces of information that AI might miss.

Has this piqued you interest? Are you going to be using the help of AI?