In 2022, generative artificial intelligence (GenAI) was introduced as a revolutionary technology that allows computer programs to create text, video, music, and code within seconds. The total number of international patent applications for GenAI innovations has increased eightfold since 2017, with China being the country that has filed the vast majority of these applications.
Over the past decade, more than 38,000 GenAI patents have been filed in China, compared to only 6,276 in the United States. South Korea, Japan, and India follow closely behind. Chinese companies like Tencent, Ping An Insurance, and Baidu are among the top patent filers in this sector.
While GenAI accounts for just 6% of all AI patents worldwide, its popularity continues to grow rapidly. WIPO reports that a quarter of the 54,000 patents filed for GenAI innovations over the past decade were filed last year. The organization describes Generative AI as a revolutionary technology that has great potential to transform industries such as healthcare and finance.
However, WIPO Director General Daren Tang also warns about potential risks associated with this technology such as job losses and intellectual property infringements. He emphasizes the importance of collaboration between modelers and content creators to ensure that humans remain at the center of innovation ecosystems as this technology continues to evolve.
In conclusion, Generative AI is a significant technological advancement with enormous potential benefits but also poses challenges that need to be addressed through collaboration between different stakeholders in the industry.
