Five years ago, artificial intelligence was a buzzword for tech insiders. Today, it’s the blueprint for how entire industries and nations reimagine the future.
Between 2019 and 2025, the world has seen an unprecedented surge in AI-related patent activity. Over 54,000 generative AI inventions were filed globally from 2014 to 2023, with 25% of it coming in the year 2023. The scale is massive, but so is the diversity. No longer confined to Silicon Valley or Shenzhen, AI innovation is now emerging from every continent, driven by needs as varied as disease prediction, food security and climate resilience.
Countries are not only building AI solutions instead they’re codifying new priorities into intellectual property. Healthcare AI patents spiked by 40% in 2023 alone as did filings related to AI in medtech, agritech and environmental systems. Google may have taken the crown in generative AI patents in 2025, but it’s the broader ecosystem—from universities in Nairobi to quantum labs in Berlin—that signals where the real momentum lies.
This report explores the arc of AI innovation through the lens of global patent data. It’s not just about who filed what—it’s about how the patterns reveal evolving ambitions, emerging hubs, and the kinds of intelligence we’re building into our systems and societies. By following the patent trail, we uncover where the world is going—and who is quietly shaping it.
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 globally.
The chart tells a compelling story: AI patent applications climbed steadily from 140,810 in 2019 to 245,382 in 2023, before tapering slightly to 237,786 in 2024. Meanwhile, granted patents trailed, peaking early at 99,207 in 2020 and then gradually declining to just 45,123 by 2024.
What explains this pattern? In 2020–2021, the AI world witnessed a surge of innovation driven by breakthroughs like GPT-3 and massive inflows of investment into AI startups and research labs. Between 2022 and 2023, generative AI startups attracted more than $25 billion, fueling R&D across healthcare, agritech and energy sectors—patent filings followed suit as technology transitioned to real-world use. Inventors and companies rushed to file patents, eager to secure IP before ideas became mainstream. This is reflected in the sharp rise in filings during those years.
However, 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.
This naturally brings us to the next question: Which countries are leading this global surge—and how do their patent counts compare? Let’s map the landscape by diving into national-level AI patent activity.
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.
At the center of the global AI patent map is China, commanding the landscape with over 817,821 AI patents. This isn’t just a lead—it’s a strategic sprint, driven by a national agenda to dominate AI by 2030. With more than 378,000 AI patents by the end of 2023, China’s patent activity has become a marker of its state-backed innovation engine.
On the other side of the Pacific, the United States holds firm with 225,513 AI patents, showcasing not just quantity but impact. While China leads in volume, the US consistently produces highly cited, foundational AI patents—thanks to deep investments from leaders like Google, NVIDIA and OpenAI.
Explore in more detail how global patent innovation in AI takes shape if we exclude China and other East Asian countries, visit Artificial Intelligence (AI) Patent Landscape.
Then there’s Japan and India, occupying the middle tier. Japan’s 66,667 patents reflect its legacy in robotics and embedded systems, now evolving into advanced mobility and industrial AI. India’s 30,928 patents mark a sharp rise fueled cxzsby growing tech ecosystems in Bangalore and Hyderabad and an AI-first approach to solving local challenges like agriculture and public health.
With the where established, the next question becomes how leading countries’ AI patent activity has evolved over time. Which nations have sustained momentum and which show signs of acceleration or plateau? The following section dives into the patent filing trends by country over 2019–2025 to unpack these trajectories.
How Have AI Patent Filings Evolved Across the Top Countries from 2019 to 2025?
This chart illustrates the year-on-year patent filing trends for the top countries leading in AI innovation from 2019 to 2025, showing the number of AI-related patent filings by country.
The story of global AI patent filings from 2019 to 2024 is one of exponential growth, shifting dynamics and emerging regional strengths.
China leads the way, with filings soaring from 59,061 in 2019 to a projected 188,767 in 2024. This dramatic rise reflects the country’s aggressive AI strategy, fueled by government-backed initiatives and a booming tech sector. By 2023, China had already filed 156,477 patents, maintaining its position as the undisputed leader in AI innovation.
Meanwhile, the United States, while still a formidable player, has seen a decline in filings over the past few years. From 31,013 in 2019, the U.S. reached 32,422 in 2022, but is projected to drop to 17,157 by 2024. This slowdown hints at a shift from new patent filings to consolidation and refinement in core AI areas, as industry giants like Google and Microsoft continue to build on their foundational work.
Want a deeper dive into US vs Chinese AI patent strategies? Explore AI Patent Landscape: USA vs China.
South Korea and Japan have remained steady contributors, with South Korea’s filings climbing from 16,893 in 2022 to 28,297 in 2023, driven by its focus on AI in robotics and automation. Japan, though stable, shows a slight dip, maintaining around 10,000 filings annually, while Taiwan continues its slow and steady rise.
One of the most notable stories is India, which has witnessed a remarkable jump in patent filings, from 717 in 2019 to 9,404 in 2024. This 12-fold increase signals a growing recognition of AI’s potential in solving local challenges, from agriculture to healthcare, and an expanding tech ecosystem fueled by startups and innovation hubs in cities like Bangalore.
Having established the trends in patent filings by country, let’s now zoom out to explore the global R&D centers driving these innovations. The next section maps out the geographical distribution of R&D centers fueling AI patent filings—highlighting where the real research and development is happening behind these patent trends.
Where Are the R&D Centers Driving Global AI Innovation?
This chart maps out the distribution of global AI R&D centers, showing where the highest concentration of AI research and development is taking place worldwide.
When we zoom in on the R&D centers for AI, the map reveals a striking picture of concentration and collaboration. The United States and China stand out, with the US boasting 309,055 R&D centers and China leading with an even more substantial 820,003. These numbers are a testament to the massive scale of AI investment in both countries.
The United States continues to lead in research output and innovation—largely driven by tech hubs like Silicon Valley, Boston and Austin, where companies and universities spearhead AI research. On the other hand, with more than 820,000 AI R&D centers, China’s rapid urbanization, massive infrastructure investment, and government-backed AI development programs make it a global leader in AI patents.
The Latin American and African regions show promising growth but remain far behind in terms of R&D center numbers. Brazil, with 408 centers, and South Africa, with 105, reflect early-stage engagement, but the full potential of AI innovation in these regions is still waiting to be unlocked.
Having explored the geographical distribution of AI R&D centers, we now turn our attention to the companies fueling this innovation. The next section dives into the top companies leading the way in AI patent filings and shaping the future of AI across industries.
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.
The global AI patent race is heating up, and the State Grid Corporation of China stands firmly at the top, with a projected 33,976 patents from 2019 to 2025. While this number may seem monumental, what’s truly fascinating is the significant gap between 2023–2024 filings (4,235) and the company’s long-term projections. This suggests a robust pipeline of AI-driven innovation yet to be fully realized, showcasing a company deeply committed to future advancements.
Samsung, with 31,418 patents, isn’t far behind, having ramped up its AI efforts significantly over the past few years. Tencent and Google also show impressive figures, with 26,591 and 23,893 patents respectively. What stands out here is the steady growth in their patent filings—companies like Tencent and Baidu continue to increase their filings, reflecting a sustained push toward AI leadership in fields such as cloud computing, natural language processing and autonomous systems.
As we observe these trends in AI patent filings, it’s important to understand the dynamics behind these numbers. The next section delves into the year-on-year patent filing trends of these companies, providing a clearer picture of their innovation pace. We’ll also look at the PCT filings to assess the global nature of their AI patent strategies, showing how companies are focusing on international protection for their innovations.
What Do the Patent Filing Trends of Leading AI Companies Reveal About Their Innovation Strategies?
These charts display the yearly patent filing trends of top global AI companies, with the first chart illustrating overall patent filings and the second chart showcasing PCT patent filings. PCT filings represent international patent applications, indicating companies’ global expansion efforts and market strategy in securing international protection for their AI innovations.
As we dive into the patent filing trends of leading AI companies from 2019 to 2025, the story that emerges is one of intense competition, evolving strategies and the maturation of AI technologies across the globe.
State Grid Corporation of China leads the charge with a remarkable rise in filings, reaching 8,375 patents in 2024. This surge reflects China’s ambitious push to become the global leader in AI-powered infrastructure, particularly in smart grids and energy management.
On the other hand, Samsung has demonstrated a strong global commitment, with 31,418 patents from 2019 to 2025 and a consistent rise in PCT filings. The company is doubling down on its AI-powered consumer electronics, 5G technologies and AI-driven devices, reflecting a well-balanced global strategy that places it as a major player in global AI markets. However, the slight dip in filings after 2020 suggests a shift towards refining innovations rather than a broad push for new patents.
Companies like Baidu and Google are also showing a shift in strategy, with filings tapering off after 2021, reflecting a move from broad AI exploration to consolidating their market dominance. Baidu’s focus on autonomous driving and AI for search and Google’s emphasis on cloud-based AI suggest that these companies are now refining their AI products and technologies rather than aggressively pursuing new patents.
Meanwhile, Tencent shows steady growth in domestic filings, but its PCT filings remain lower compared to Samsung, revealing a gradual international expansion strategy, mainly focusing on AI in gaming, social media and cloud services.
At the same time, Huawei stands out as a major global contender, with its high PCT filings signaling a strong desire to protect its innovations internationally, particularly in 5G telecom and AI-powered networks. The company’s aggressive global patent strategy positions it as a leader in telecom AI, despite facing challenges in specific markets.
Now that we’ve explored how these companies are building their AI patent portfolios and expanding globally, it’s time to look at where they are focusing their efforts. In the next section, we’ll dive into the target markets of these top AI innovators—examining which industries and sectors they’re prioritizing as they continue to drive AI innovation across the globe.
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, Tencent and others are securing intellectual property rights.
The global AI race is not just about innovation—it’s about where companies are focusing their efforts. As we analyze the target market data, the strategy behind these patents becomes clear: some companies are consolidating their position at home, while others are aggressively expanding their reach across borders.
State Grid Corporation of China is the undisputed domestic leader, with a staggering 33,710 patents in China, making it the dominant force in AI for energy management and smart grids. While its international patent filings remain modest, this focus on China shows the company’s commitment to solidifying leadership at home before scaling its innovations globally.
Samsung, on the other hand, plays a different game. With 9,740 patents in the United States and a strong presence in Europe and Asia, Samsung is pushing AI innovation on a global scale. Whether it’s 5G technology, AI-powered consumer electronics or smart devices, Samsung’s diverse patent strategy showcases its global ambitions and strategic position across key AI markets.
Baidu and Tencent shows a similar domestic dominance in China, but it’s also making significant presence internationally, especially in the United States and Japan. Then there’s Google, with a solid presence in Europe and the United States, reflecting its strategic focus on cloud computing and machine learning models.
Now that we have a clearer understanding of the geographic focus of these AI leaders, let’s delve into their technology focus. The next section will explore the specific technology areas that are driving global AI innovation, highlighting which sectors are shaping the future of AI development.
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.
When it comes to AI innovation, not all technologies are created equal. The chart reveals a fascinating snapshot of where global AI patenting activity is concentrated, highlighting sectors that are capturing the research and investments of companies worldwide.
Leading the charge are Computing Models and Data Processing. These areas are foundational to AI, driving innovations in everything from machine learning algorithms to advanced analytics, laying the groundwork for AI’s transformative potential across industries.
Not far behind, Computer Vision and Image Analysis are booming, fueled by rapid advancements in fields such as autonomous driving, facial recognition and medical imaging. This surge underscores a clear industry trend toward AI technologies that interpret and interact visually with the world, revolutionizing sectors like automotive, healthcare and consumer electronics.
Having explored these key technology areas, let’s dive deeper into how patent filings in these fields have evolved over the years. In the next section, we’ll analyze the year-by-year trends, unveiling how global priorities in AI technologies are shifting, and which sectors are emerging as the new frontiers for innovation.
How Have AI Patent Filings Evolved Across Key Technologies Over the Years?
This chart showcases the yearly patent filings across major AI technology areas from 2019 to 2025, highlighting the evolving trends and strategic shifts in AI innovation. It provides insights into which sectors are gaining momentum and where global AI research is being concentrated.
As we journey through the landscape of AI patent filings from 2019 to 2025, a captivating narrative emerges of technologies rising, maturing and pivoting in their growth trajectory.
Computing Models and Data Processing lead from the front, with steady increases peaking at over 110,000 patents each in 2021. These two areas represent the heartbeat of AI, driving breakthroughs in machine learning, advanced analytics and foundational AI algorithms.
Meanwhile, Computer Vision has soared dramatically—from 33,891 patents in 2019 to 61,729 patents in 2023—reflecting its transformative potential across industries like autonomous vehicles, security and consumer tech. On another front, Climate Mitigation & Adaptation has shown remarkable growth, jumping from 9,037 patents in 2019 to a significant 43,118 patents in 2023.
Overall, the patent filing trends illustrate a clear story: AI innovation is not slowing down; rather, it’s shifting strategically—prioritizing applications in sustainability, advanced vision capabilities and refined data processing. The global AI landscape is evolving, marked by deeper integration into everyday life, sustainability, and smarter infrastructure.
With these evolving technology trends in mind, our focus now shifts to understanding which companies are driving these innovations. In the following section, we’ll identify the top companies filing patents and PCT patent filings in these leading technologies. This will provide a clearer view of who is shaping AI innovation, and where they’re placing their strategic bets.
How has Patent Strategies of Top Companies in AI Global Landscape Evolved?
These charts illustrate the top companies filing patents in major AI technologies, comparing overall patent filings against international (PCT) filings. This comparison highlights each company’s innovation focus areas and reveals their strategic emphasis on global markets versus domestic leadership.
Examining the patent strategies of leading AI companies through these charts reveals two distinct paths: some companies strive to lead domestically in key technologies, while others have their eyes firmly set on global markets.
Take State Grid Corporation of China as a prime example. It dominates domestically in ICT and Data Processing strongly emphasizing technologies tied to energy infrastructure. Yet, its near-absence from the PCT chart underscores a strategy centered on securing its home market first—an approach that may precede eventual international expansion.
On the other hand, Samsung demonstrates a strikingly balanced approach. While leading overall in areas like Computing Models and Image Analysis, its equally robust presence in PCT filings across the same technologies indicates clear global ambitions. Samsung’s dual focus positions it not just as a domestic giant but as a formidable global competitor in AI-driven consumer electronics and mobile technology.
Huawei and Microsoft similarly reflect a global strategy. Huawei is strategically expanding its global patent portfolio, especially in critical areas like Computing Models and Data Processing. This global filing approach demonstrates Huawei’s determination to maintain international leadership in telecom and 5G sectors despite geopolitical pressures. Meanwhile, Microsoft shows consistent strength in Data Processing, underpinning its global ambitions in cloud computing and enterprise AI solutions.
Google, on the other hand, presents an interesting contrast. It holds significant domestic filings in Speech Analysis & Processing, reflecting its AI-driven services like voice assistants. Yet, its international filings remain relatively modest, suggesting a targeted approach to global markets, focusing more on consolidating and integrating AI within existing services rather than aggressive global expansion through new patents.
Having explored the strategic patenting patterns of leading AI companies, let’s shift our focus to the academic front. In the next section, we’ll examine which universities are fueling AI innovation, highlighting their role as critical incubators for future breakthroughs in artificial intelligence.
Which Universities Are Leading the Global AI Patent Landscape?
This chart ranks the top 15 universities and research institutions worldwide by the number of AI-related patents filed between 2019 and 2025, highlighting their contributions to AI innovation.
A fascinating story unfolds as we examine the university patent landscape with Zhejiang University emerging as the leading university. The university has been nurturing AI research since 1978, was among the first to launch an AI undergraduate degree in 2019, and has pioneered an AI+X interdisciplinary program.
China dominates this space. All top 15 patenting universities hail from the country, reaffirming findings that 94% of global generative AI patent families are held by Chinese institutions and firms. Zhejiang University’s rise reflects more than just research strength—it’s fueled by Hangzhou’s vibrant startup ecosystem. The region has been nicknamed the mother of little dragons, spawning dozens of AI startups like DeepSeek and DEEP Robotics, founded by Zhejiang alumni backed by local and Alibaba funding.
Having seen the universities fueling breakthroughs, let’s now shine a spotlight on the individual inventors propelling AI forward. In the next section, we’ll explore the top patent-holding individuals in the global AI landscape and uncover how their contributions are shaping the future of artificial intelligence.
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.
Now that we’ve seen the leading minds behind the most prolific AI patent portfolios, understanding how these inventors have performed over time offers sharper insight into their sustained innovation drive and strategic focus. In the following chart, we explore the year-on-year patent filing trends of the top AI inventors from 2019 to 2025, revealing who’s steadily accelerating their contributions and who’s recently emerged as a disruptive force in the global AI race.
Curious about the individual innovators behind AI patents in US? Check out our analysis of the Top 50 AI Inventors in the US.
How Have Top AI Inventors Sustained Their Innovation Edge Over Time?
This chart traces the annual patent contributions of the world’s most prolific AI inventors from 2019 to 2025, revealing who’s leading, accelerating, or slowing in the global innovation race.
The AI patent landscape is a dynamic, ever-evolving map, revealing the global players, technology shifts and strategic moves that will define the future of innovation.
Companies like State Grid and Tencent are securing their home bases, while others, like Samsung and Huawei, are charting aggressive global expansion. The shift from foundational computing models to sustainable technologies like climate mitigation and green transportation shows that AI’s role is broadening—becoming a key player not only in business growth but in addressing the world’s most urgent challenges.
The universities leading the charge in patent filings underscore the critical role of academia in AI development, fueling novel ideas and pushing them into the global spotlight. Meanwhile, top inventors continue to lead with high patent outputs, shaping the course of AI with each new idea.
The question is no longer about who will dominate the patent landscape—it’s about who will use those patents to shape a better, smarter and more sustainable future.
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