WIPO Technology Trends 2019: Artificial Intelligence

1 WIPO. Technology Trends 2019. Artificial Intelligence WIPO. Technology Trends 2019. Artificial Intelligence The user is allowed to reproduce, distribute, adapt, translate and publicly perform this publication, including for commer- cial purposes, without explicit permission, provided that the content is accompanied by an acknowledgement that WIPO. is the source and that it is clearly indicated if changes were made to the original content. Suggested citation: WIPO (2019). WIPO Technology Trends 2019: Artificial Intelligence . Geneva: World Intellectual Property Organization.

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3 To view a copy of this license, please visit https://creative- The designations employed and the presentation of material throughout this publication do not imply the expression of any opinion whatsoever on the part of WIPO concerning the legal status of any country, territory or area or of its authorities, or concerning the delimitation of its frontiers or boundaries. This publication is not intended to reflect the views of the WIPO, 2019. Member States or the WIPO Secretariat. First published 2019. The mention of specific companies or products of manu- facturers does not imply that they are endorsed or recom- World Intellectual Property Organization mended by WIPO in preference to others of a similar nature 34, chemin des Colombettes, Box 18.

4 That are not mentioned. CH-1211 Geneva 20, Switzerland Photo credit: cover montage created with images by ISBN: 978-92-805-3007-0. Margarita Lyr / iStock / Getty Images Plus and Daria Dombrovskaya / iStock / Getty Images Plus Attribution IGO. Printed in Switzerland (CC BY IGO). Artificial Intelligence is a new digital frontier that will have a profound impact on the world, transforming the way we live and work. WIPO Director General, Francis Gurry Preface 1 Introduction 3 Evolution 7 of AI patent applications The past, present and future of AI: what research and and innovation Trends can reveal.

5 The data used in this report scientific and how it is analyzed; and Foreword a scheme for categorizing publications AI technologies. 8 18. The historical development of AI innovation: analysis of Trends in patents and scientific literature since About the 2 Trends the emergence of AI, and breakdown by techniques, contributors in Artificial functional applications and application fields. 10 Intelligence 38.. Overall Trends emerging from the data and analysis of changes over time, by region Acknowl- Key and industry and the most 4. prominent entities. edgments 30 players in 12 AI patenting.

6 The top applicants for AI. patents: how companies and universities/public research Executive organizations compare, which entities are most active in summary each area and where they are filing. 13 58.. 5 Geography 7 Key issues Selected AI. of patent arising from categories filings AI and policy and terms responses 146. Comprehensive analysis of geographical Trends , based on . the offices where patents are Views from AI experts filed, including both first and on the key policy and subsequent filings. regulatory issues raised by AI. Further applications, plus examples of policies proposed or enacted 82.

7 Reading in various jurisdictions. 120. 150. Market . 6. Trends 8 The future related to AI of AI and the Analysis of the use of AI IP system technologies: data on acquisitions, funding, open source and patent litigation The opportunities presented and oppositions. by AI for business, society and culture, and how AI and IP. rights interact with each other 104 in the promotion of innovation. 138. WIPO Technology Trends 2019. 5 This new report aims to shed light on the Trends in innovation in AI since the field first developed in the 1950s. WIPO Director General, Francis Gurry Preface I am pleased to present the first report in a new put into practice).

8 One of the most striking flagship series, WIPO Technology Trends . This findings of the report is that 50 percent of all AI. first edition features Artificial Intelligence (AI) as patents have been published in just the last five the theme. It is a fitting topic for the launch of years a remarkable illustration of how rapidly the series as AI is a cutting-edge Technology innovation is advancing in this field. with impacts on a wide range of businesses and activities. This report identifies the key players in AI from both the corporate and public AI is fast becoming part of our everyday lives, sectors across different research areas and changing how we work, shop, travel and industries.

9 Furthermore, the analysis of the interact with each other. Yet we are only at data and the inputs from AI experts address the beginning of discovering the many ways many of the policy issues raised by AI, such in which AI will have an impact on and as the regulation and control of data, the indeed challenge business, society and incentivization of further research, the role of culture. There are numerous misconceptions intellectual property (IP) protection and the and misgivings about the nature of AI, and in development of human-centered and ethical AI. particular the challenge it poses to humankind.

10 To benefit all. Given these widely held reservations and concerns, it is essential to have a factual basis Together, the analysis of technological Trends for policy discussions about innovation in AI. presented in this report and the voices of AI. Through this report, we hope to contribute experts collected here are a valuable new evidence and bring clarity to this important addition to a growing knowledge base on AI. area of debate. I hope that this contribution will help to shift Based on a detailed study of patents and other debate away from speculative interpretation information, this new report aims to shed light and toward evidence-based projections, on the Trends in innovation in AI since the field thereby informing global policymaking on first developed in the 1950s.