Artificial Intelligence (AI) Patent Landscape

“Artificial Intelligence is the new electricity” – Andrew Ng, Co-founder of Google Brain

As we stand on the brink of the next technological revolution, it’s clear just how true that statement has become. AI isn’t just transforming industries and driving breakthroughs in fields like healthcare, automotive and finance, but also influencing the day we live and work.

Take, for example, the surge in generative AI, sparked by the launch of OpenAI’s ChatGPT in late 2022. This moment was a game-changer, often called the “iPhone moment” for generative AI. With it, AI has entered the mainstream, triggering a wave of R&D, investment, and, of course, patent filings. According to WIPO, AI patent filings have soared over the past few years, with generative AI patents alone increasing by over 800% since 2017. This explosion in AI innovation is reshaping global industries, making it crucial to track patent trends that signal where this technology is headed.

The rise in AI patent filings reflects more than just technological progress, it also points to a shift in how AI is being treated in legal frameworks across the globe. For example, in July 2024, the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) clarified that AI inventions are patentable, provided they show practical application. These legal shifts are an essential part of how AI is being developed, commercialized and protected worldwide.

With that in mind, we’ve conducted an in-depth analysis of AI patent trends from 2019 to 2025, focusing on global filings, excluding East Asian countries. The reason for this focus? The sheer volume of AI patents filed in the last four years has been staggering, and understanding these trends outside of East Asia provides a clearer picture of how other regions are positioning themselves in this rapidly evolving landscape.

How Have Global Patent Publications and Grants in AI Evolved Over Time?

This chart presents the total count of published and granted patents in Artificial Intelligence from 2019 to 2025 for the key innovative countries analyzed in the Global Patent Landscape.

Global AI Patent Landscape

Patent Filing Trends (2019–2025)

Note: The patent count is calculated by considering unique patent families in the portfolio. Date Range based on Publication Year (2019-2025)

The global AI patent filing trend has seen an unprecedented surge, particularly in 2021, when patent applications skyrocketed to 62,582, marking the highest number in five years. This spike is not coincidental; it mirrors the explosive rise of foundational models like GPT-3, along with a boom in AI startup funding and a global race to secure intellectual property (IP). The shift in AI’s focus—from research labs to boardrooms—created a fervent need for businesses to lock in IP as a safeguard for emerging technologies. (Source)

The global filing trend shows a steady decline in granted patents as well, highlighting potential bottlenecks or delays in the patent approval process. Yet, this decline in granted patents, especially from 2024 onwards, should not be interpreted as a decrease in innovation or patent filings. As patent applications can take up to 18 months to be published, this data simply reflects a lag between filing and granting. The recent years may show a delay in granted patents, but it doesn’t necessarily indicate a dip in AI patent activity. We are comparing the most recent published records, which might not capture the full extent of 2024 and 2025 filings just yet.

When we zoom in on the European market, a similar pattern emerges, but with its own nuances. AI patent applications in Europe saw a steady increase until 2021, peaking at 11,017 applications. However, since then, the European market has experienced a sharper decline. In 2023, patent filings dropped to 7,278, with only 1,789 applications expected in 2024, and a minimal 49 forecasted for 2025. These numbers, while lower than the global trend, still follow the same pattern: a dramatic reduction in granted patents (e.g., just 412 in 2023 and 156 in 2024). The difference between the global and European trends may be linked to specific regional challenges, including stricter patent review processes or limited AI-related funding in comparison to the US or Asia.

Did you know?

In 2024, AI patent filings soared by 10.6% in Europe, with a total of 16,815 applications—showcasing a sharp rise in AI innovation across the continent! (Source)

This brings us to the next critical question: where are the leaders in AI innovation emerging from, and how are they navigating these patenting challenges? Let’s take a look at the leading countries in AI development, as revealed in our Global Patent Landscape Analysis, to see where the highest concentrations of AI-related intellectual property activity are unfolding.

Which Countries Lead the Global Innovation Race in AI?

This map visualizes the distribution of AI-related patent filings across the globe, highlighting the leading countries in AI innovation based on their total published patents from 2019 to 2025.

This map highlights the geographical distribution of AI patent filings across the world, shedding light on the countries that are at the forefront of AI innovation. The United States stands out with a dominant 178,200 AI patents, a testament to its leadership in AI research and development. The US’s share of the global AI patent landscape reflects its deep-rooted tech ecosystem, led by Silicon Valley and major players like Google, Microsoft and IBM.

Countries in Europe, like the United Kingdom (3,328 patents) and Sweden (113 patents), reflect steady contributions to AI research, though they lag behind the US by a significant margin. The geographical spread suggests that while AI innovation is globally pervasive, the highest concentration of AI patents is still heavily centered in the US, with Europe and parts of Asia (like Singapore, India and Japan) catching up.

Interestingly, countries like India (19 patents) and Brazil (1,689 patents) show that AI research is also taking root in emerging economies, though at a much smaller scale. This could indicate a growing recognition of AI’s potential in these regions, driven by local investments in technology and international partnerships.

The relatively low patent numbers from countries like Saudi Arabia (76 patents) and the Philippines (260 patents) signal an opportunity for growth and the development of AI infrastructures that could close the innovation gap in the coming years.

As we shift from the landscape of global AI patenting, it’s clear that while the US continues to lead, other countries are making strides to secure their own place in this transformative field. This brings us to the next section of our analysis, where we’ll focus on the top companies that are driving these innovations forward, securing patents and shaping the future of AI.

Which Companies Are Leading the AI Innovation Race Through Patents?

This chart highlights the top companies in the field of Artificial Intelligence based on global patent ownership from 2019 to 2025. It provides a comparative view of companies with the highest number of AI-related patent filings, underscoring corporate innovation strategies and competitive positioning in the global AI race.

Samsung and IBM are neck and neck in the AI patent landscape, each boasting over 10,000 patents. While these tech giants lead the pack, companies like Google and Microsoft follow closely, each holding over 7,800 AI-related patents. This surge in patenting underscores a broader strategic push by global tech leaders to dominate AI domains, from cloud intelligence to edge computing.

Interestingly, firms with fewer patents aren’t necessarily lagging in innovation. For instance, Intel—despite having less than half the patents of Samsung—invests nearly 30% of its revenue into R&D, a figure that vastly outpaces Samsung’s 10.94% and IBM’s 10.25%. This divergence highlights that patent volume is just one facet of innovation leadership; strategic R&D intensity plays a crucial, though less visible, role.

The picture shifts slightly when we zoom in on Europe. Samsung continues to dominate, with 8,229 AI-related patents, followed by LG (2,667) and Huawei (2,418). Notably, European-origin companies like Philips (866) and Siemens (558) hold smaller shares, reflecting a landscape where non-European firms are leading the AI innovation charge within Europe itself. This may point to Europe’s current focus on ethical AI, regulation and collaborative innovation rather than sheer patent volume.

Did you know?
In 2024, IBM led the global AI patent race with 1,591 generative AI applications, more than three times the number filed by Google, underscoring its aggressive strategy in AI innovation. (Source)

While established tech giants continue to innovate, it’s the fast-moving AI start-ups that are injecting fresh energy into the global innovation ecosystem—pioneering bold new solutions and redefining what’s possible with artificial intelligence.

How Are AI Start-ups Shaping the Future of Global Innovation?

The AI start-up ecosystem has exploded over the last decade, with 500+ companies launching worldwide and fueling a new wave of innovation. The United States leads this dynamic landscape, home to more than half of these start-ups, while the UK, India, Israel and China are quickly establishing themselves as vibrant innovation hubs.

Between 2016 and 2017, the sector experienced a remarkable surge, with a rush of new companies riding breakthroughs in machine learning, robotics and intelligent automation. Since then, the pace has naturally eased, signaling a maturing industry that’s shifting from rapid expansion to strategic focus and deeper, high-impact innovation.

What stands out most? 40+ AI start-ups have reached unicorn status, demonstrating strong market confidence alongside technological breakthroughs. This diverse and fast-evolving ecosystem continues to drive transformative ideas, disrupting traditional industries and setting new benchmarks for the future. The table below showcases the list of AI start-ups which have reached unicorn status.

Company	Country	Found In
Dremio Corporation	United States	2015
Aqua Security Software	Israel	2015
Clearcover Inc	United States	2016
K Health Inc	United States	2016
Groq	United States	2016
Owkin Inc	United States	2016
Tenstorrent Inc	Canada	2016
Shield AI	United States	2015
Sambanova Systems	United States	2017
Hailo Technologies	Israel	2017
Concured Ltd	United Kingdom	2015
Standard Cognition Corporation	United States	2017
Cerebras Systems	United States	2016
Papaya Global	United States	2016
People.ai	United States	2016
YugaByte	United States	2016
Amperity Inc	United States	2016
Hugging Face Inc	United States	2016
Lunar Way	Denmark	2015
Honasa Consumer Ltd	India	2016
TrueLayer Ltd	United Kingdom	2016
Aiven Ltd	Finland	2016
Expel Inc	United States	2016
Chronosphere Inc	United States	2019
Fireblocks Inc	United States	2018
Ecoflow Technology	United States	2016
Orca Security Ltd	United States	2019
TaxBit Inc	United States	2018
Whatnot Inc	United States	2019
JupiterOne Inc	United States	2018
PsiQuantum Corporation	United States	2016
Keli Network Inc	United States	2016
dbt Lab Inc	United States	2016
Critical Ideas Inc	United States	2018
Beijing Xiruiyasi Technology Co Ltd	China	2015
Divvy Homes Inc	United States	2017
Side Inc	United States	2017
Agile Robots	Germany	2018
Wayve Technologies	United Kingdom	2017
Solugen Inc	United States	2016
Ada Support Inc	Canada	2016
Misfits Market Inc	United States	2018
FinCo Services Inc	United States	2015
Clarify Health Solutions	United States	2015
Certified Kernel Tech	United States	2018
Modern Life Inc	United States	2017
At-Bay Inc	United States	2016
Rightway Healthcare	United States	2017
MobileCoin Inc	United States	2017

Not every start-up publicly shares its innovation journey through patents. If you want access to the complete list of AI start-ups actively filing patents and driving next-generation technology, please fill out the form below.

With a clearer view of the innovative companies and startups driving AI breakthroughs globally, the next step is to delve into the specific technologies they are pioneering. Let’s now explore the key technology areas where these companies are focusing their efforts, highlighting the sectors that are not only shaping the present but also defining the future of AI.

Which Technology Areas Are Leading in Global AI Patent Filings?

This chart visualizes the top technology areas in the global AI patent landscape, highlighting the distribution of patents across various fields of AI innovation.

The chart reveals a striking concentration of patents in Computational Intelligence and Computer Architecture, each leading with 182,922 patents, dwarfing all other segments. This dominance reflects a shift where innovations in neural networks, deep learning, and specialized AI chips are setting the pace for global tech leadership.

Close behind, areas like Networking & Communication, Image Analysis and Computer Vision highlight the growing importance of real-time data flow and visual understanding in smart devices, autonomous systems and connected environments. Intriguingly, while sectors like Healthcare, Speech Processing and Automation hold fewer patents, they represent high-impact domains with real-world use cases—from AI-driven diagnostics and voice assistants to intelligent robotics in factories.

Having explored the leading technology areas in AI innovation, the next critical question is: Where are the top companies deploying their AI technologies? Let’s now dive into the target markets for these AI pioneers by analyzing the geographical distribution of their patent holdings across key countries shedding light on their strategic focus and global expansion.

Where Are the Leading Companies in AI Focusing Their Patent Strategies Globally?

This chart presents the geographical distribution of AI patent ownership for leading companies from 2019 to 2025. It highlights the key target markets where top players like IBM, Samsung, Google and others are securing intellectual property rights.

The United States dominates as the primary market for AI patents, with IBM alone filing over 8,300 AI-related patents, a figure unmatched by any other player in any single country. This overwhelming emphasis on the US market reflects its deep investment ecosystem, regulatory support for IP, and the presence of tech innovation hubs.

Meanwhile, Qualcomm’s concentrated activity in the US, Spain and Australia with minimal filings in Europe indicates a sharply defined regional strategy, likely tied to telecom and mobile AI innovations where these regions serve as leading commercial and testing grounds.

In contrast, Robert Bosch demonstrates a strong European footprint, particularly in Germany (1,416 patents), reflecting the regional strength of automotive AI applications. Similarly, Philips and Siemens maintain a pronounced presence across multiple European countries, aligning with their embedded infrastructure in healthcare and industrial AI domains.

We’ve seen where companies are focusing their efforts but what does the overall AI innovation activity look like across countries over time? In the next section, we explore year-wise patent filing trends (2019–2025) across major countries, revealing which nations are accelerating or decelerating in their AI innovation journeys.

How Have Patent Filings in AI Evolved Among the Leading Companies Over Time?

This chart presents the yearly patent activity of leading companies from 2019 to 2025, showcasing fluctuations in innovation investments.

The early 2020s marked a golden era for AI patenting, as companies rushed to stake their claims in a fast-evolving technological frontier. Between 2019 and 2021, leaders like IBM, Samsung and Microsoft ramped up filings aggressively; IBM peaking at 2,057 filings in 2021, while Samsung surpassed the 2,000-mark in 2022, making a bold statement about their AI ambitions.

Yet by 2023, the tide began to shift. A visible drop in filings across nearly all major players signaled a new phase. From 2022 onward, AI patent filings began to contract sharply. Samsung’s filings dropped to 761 in 2024, IBM’s plummeted to just 34, and companies like Intel, Philips and Robert Bosch saw similarly steep declines.

But this isn’t just a story of declining numbers. It reflects a deeper, strategic recalibration. Following the USPTO’s decision that only human inventors can be recognized on patent applications, tech firms have faced growing uncertainty in how to protect AI-generated inventions. (Source) This, combined with rising scrutiny over ethical implications, explainability, and potential misuse of AI, has made patent prosecution more complex. As a result, many companies are now pivoting toward trade secrets or deferring public disclosures altogether shielding their innovation blueprints from competitors and regulatory friction. (Source)

In Europe, the story is consistent, albeit with regional texture. Samsung made an aggressive push between 2021 and 2023, peaking at 1,812 filings in 2022 before sharply retreating. Qualcomm followed a similar arc, recording 783 filings in 2022, only to hit zero by 2024. Meanwhile, Microsoft’s European filings dropped from 176 in 2022 to none by 2024, hinting at a widespread trend of companies holding back in anticipation of regulatory frameworks like the EU AI Act.

What emerges is not a drop in innovation but a shift in how innovation is being protected. The post-2022 era marks a transition from quantity to quality, from exposure to discretion, and from aggressive IP expansion to selective, high-value targeting.

Did you know?

The European Union’s AI Act, effective from August 1, 2024, is the world’s first comprehensive legislation regulating artificial intelligence. With stringent transparency requirements, especially for high-risk AI systems, organizations are now grappling with the challenge of disclosing detailed information about their AI models, including training data and algorithms. (Source)

While companies are securing their AI innovations, universities and institutions are playing a crucial role in shaping the future of AI through cutting-edge research. In this section, we’ll spotlight the top academic institutions that have been at the forefront of AI innovation, analyzing their contributions to the patent landscape.

How Are Leading Companies Collaborating with Academia to Drive AI Innovation?

This chart maps global patent collaboration networks between companies and academic institutions from 2019 to 2025, highlighting key research partnerships that drive innovation in artificial intelligence.

As AI innovation matures, companies are increasingly turning to academia to deepen their technological roots and expand their research frontiers. The result is a growing network of IP co-ownership between corporations and universities where patents are shared assets shaping the next wave of artificial intelligence.

IBM, a long-time torchbearer for industry-academic collaboration, has partnered with prestigious institutions like MIT, Pennsylvania State University and the University of Michigan, cementing its footprint in both fundamental and translational AI research. Samsung, meanwhile, has cultivated robust ties in Asia and Europe, collaborating with Seoul National University, Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST) and the University of Zurich, reflecting its global R&D scope.

Huawei and LG showcase a regional focus—tapping into China and South Korea’s academic excellence through links with Tsinghua University, KAIST and Yonsei University. These partnerships are not just about technical muscle but are strategic moves to stay ahead in regulatory, ethical and domain-specific advancements in AI.

Philips presents a more diversified collaboration profile, working with Tech University Eindhoven, University of Chicago and even co-patenting with Robert Bosch, showing how healthcare and industrial tech sectors are engaging in multi-party innovation frameworks.

This rise in collaborations signals a shift toward open innovation ecosystems, where shared patents become a bridge between theoretical breakthroughs and commercial deployment. It also allows companies to hedge risks in emerging areas like explainable AI, ethical frameworks and neurosymbolic systems—domains still under heavy academic exploration.

Having mapped out the collaborative backbone of AI innovation, the next natural question is:
Who are the key minds behind this global patent surge? Let’s now dive into the most prolific inventors in the global AI patent landscape, and uncover how individual brilliance is shaping the trajectory of AI advancement.

Who Are the Top Inventors Behind the AI Patent Boom?

This chart highlights the top individual contributors to the global AI patent landscape from 2019 to 2025. These prolific inventors are not only shaping cutting-edge AI systems but also defining how intellectual property in AI evolves across industries.

Behind every major leap in AI technology lies a cadre of relentless inventors pushing boundaries and this chart captures the best of them. Cella Charles Howard, leading the global chart with 558 patents, has carved a formidable niche in AI innovation. Following closely are Wang Wei (473) and Shelton Frederick E. (462), both of whom have significantly influenced patent-heavy domains like neural networks, edge AI and autonomous systems.

And when we zoom into Europe, we uncover a compelling parallel: inventors like Luo Tao (459) dominate the European AI space, with a strong footprint across EPO filings. Other top European contributors like Yang Suckchel (368) and Kim Seonwook (341) reinforce the presence of Korean-led innovation across the continent evidencing cross-regional talent flows and corporate R&D mobility.

This pattern underscores a crucial insight: while companies may lead the IP strategy, it’s individual inventors who drive its momentum. Their output not only reflects institutional investment but also the evolution of applied AI across sectors from telecom and healthcare to industrial automation and AI infrastructure.

While volume showcases innovation activity, impact is measured through citations. The next table shifts focus to the most cited AI patents globally highlighting those foundational inventions that have become touchstones for the industry. Let’s dive into the ten most influential AI patents shaping future research and development.

Which are the Top Patents by Citation Count in the Global AI Patent Landscape?

This table showcases the most cited AI patents in the global landscape between 2019 and 2025.A high citation count indicates that these patents are not only influential but also serve as the building blocks for new innovations and applications in AI across various industries.

Publication Number	Patent Holder	Citation Count
US20190201140A1	Cilag Gmbh International	1620
US20190205567A1	Cilag Gmbh International	1447
US20190206569A1	Cilag Gmbh International	1410
US20190206561A1	Cilag Gmbh International	1386
US10892899B2	Cilag Gmbh International	1267
US20190206564A1	Cilag Gmbh International	1248
US10966791B2	Cilag Gmbh International	1149
US10595887B2	Cilag Gmbh International	1059
US11100631B2	Cilag Gmbh International	1050
US11026751B2	Cilag Gmbh International	1033

Having explored the patents that are shaping the future of AI, let’s now turn our attention to AI invention families the largest and most influential clusters of related AI patents. These invention families are where companies are building entire portfolios, protecting expansive AI innovations with long-term commercial strategies.

Which are the Top 10 Largest AI Invention Families in the Most Innovative Countries?

The table highlights the largest invention families in artificial intelligence based on the count of patent family from 2019 to 2025.

Publication Number	Patent Holder	Families Count
US20250089989A1	Cilag Gmbh International	1706
US12206660B2	View Operating Corp	1534
US20250054362A1	Angel Group Co Ltd	1252
EP2637393B1	Apple	1242
AU2019202073A1	Deka Products Lp	1164
US20240180460A1	Dexcom Inc	1061
US20240390948A1	Seedx Technologies Inc	845
US20230339526A1	GE Global Sourcing Llc	756
US20240179072A9	Autoconnect Holding	756
RU2019107808A	Grow Solutions Tech Llc	753

The size of these invention families reflects more than just a large number of filings; it shows a strategic foresight to cover the entire spectrum of an innovation. By filing multiple patents within a family, companies are ensuring that they hold the key to future developments in AI, from foundational algorithms to specialized applications.

Having explored the massive invention families shaping the global AI patent landscape, we now turn our focus to the market value of these patents. What makes certain AI patents more valuable than others? In the next section, we’ll examine the patents with the highest market value, diving into the intellectual property assets that hold the potential for driving the next wave of AI-driven innovation.

Which AI Patents Are Most Frequently Involved in Patent Litigation?

This chart showcases the most litigated patents in artificial intelligence from 2019 to 2025. It highlights AI patents that have been involved in multiple legal disputes, signalling their high value, contested ownership or potential infringement issues.

Publication Number	Patent Holder	Litigation Case Count
US10565229B2	People.ai	8
US10394268B2	Itron Inc, Resideo Tech Inc, Causam Energy Inc	8
US10503783B1	People.ai	8
US11468984B2	Mobile Health Innovative Solutions Llc, Tpdm1 Ltd	8
US10496634B1	People.ai	8
US10657129B2	People.ai	8
US10754882B2	Optra Health Inc	6
US10679001B2	People.ai	5
US10599844B2	Open Text Corporation	5
US10595731B2	Alivecor	5

In the fiercely competitive world of AI, patents are not only valuable as assets but are also subject to intense legal scrutiny. The US10565229B2 patent from People.ai stands out, with eight litigation cases involving its AI-driven sales and predictive analytics technologies. This patent’s centrality in multiple legal battles underscores the high stakes involved, with competitors likely challenging its broad claims in AI automation and predictive models.

Similarly, People.ai is a dominant player in the litigation space, with multiple patents in the top 10 most litigated patents list, including US10503783B1, US10496634B1 and US10657129B2. The company’s heavy involvement in these lawsuits highlights its aggressive IP strategy to defend its innovations in AI-driven sales technologies.

These litigation trends are a reflection of the growing legal sophistication in the AI space. As companies expand their IP portfolios, they are encountering both challenges in patent ownership and increasing legal disputes over patent validity and infringement, signaling the maturing nature of the AI industry.

As patent litigation heats up, one must ask: Who are the top plaintiffs driving these legal battles? Let’s now examine the key players in AI patent litigation—the entities pushing the boundaries of intellectual property enforcement and setting precedents for the industry.

Which Plaintiffs Are Most Active in Patent Litigation Globally?

This chart highlights the top plaintiffs in patent litigation cases from 2019 to 2025. It showcases companies that have actively enforced their patents, either to protect innovations or engage in strategic lawsuits.

Plaintiff	Litigation Case Count
People.ai	8
Mobile Health Innovative Solutions	8
Causam Enterprises	5
Fractal Networks Llc	5
AudioEye, Inc	4
OptraHealth, Inc	4
Hayden AI Technologies, Inc	3
Omni MedSci, Inc	3
Webroot	3
DexCom, Inc	3

This rise in patent disputes reflects a broader trend: as AI technologies mature, companies are increasingly aware that protecting their innovations in court is just as important as the innovation itself. The number of cases tied to these plaintiffs speaks to the growing complexity and importance of intellectual property in the AI industry.

The next five years will be critical for the AI patent landscape, with innovation accelerating across industries. As companies, universities, and startups continue to file patents and collaborate globally, AI will reshape markets and technologies. The insights shared in this article highlight the key players and trends driving this change, positioning AI at the heart of future breakthroughs and industry transformations.

We’ve decoded global AI patent trends—now it’s your turn to explore the epicenter.
We’ve kept East Asian countries out of this article for a reason — their patent activity in AI, especially GenAI, is on a completely different scale.

Between 2014 and 2023, China alone accounted for 70% of all GenAI patent families filed globally, and 8 of the top 10 research institutions in GenAI were Chinese. Including this data here would’ve overshadowed the rest of the world — so we’ve compiled it separately.

We’ve put together two focused datasets that offer deeper, more meaningful insights:

• A region-specific overview of AI patent trends across East Asian Countries
• A direct US vs China comparison, showing how the two leaders are shaping the AI patent landscape differently

If you’re looking to go deeper into either of these areas, just fill out the form below to get exclusive insights: