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ARTICLE · 13 OCTOBER 2025

Will You Help The USPTO Test AI-Generated Prior Art Searching?

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One of the goals of the new Director of the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) is to improve patent examination efficiency by leveraging Artificial Intelligence (AI) tools.

United StatesIntellectual Property
Courtenay Brinckerhoff
Courtenay Brinckerhoff
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One of the goals of the new Director of the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) is to improve patent examination efficiency by leveraging Artificial Intelligence (AI) tools. The Automated Search Pilot Program announced in a Federal Register Notice published October 8, 2025, asks patent applicants to volunteer their applications to help the USPTO assess the impact and feasibility of using AI tools to generate initial prior art search results. Participation does require a fee, but applicants may be willing to participate in order to help the USPTO assess the potential value of AI-generated search results and determine if they might improve examination efficiency and quality.

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