1 in Every 4 AI Patents Issued in the US was Issued to IBM, Amazon, Microsoft, and Alphabet

Patent applications are strong indicators of where businesses see future innovation and technological value. Tech giants like IBM, Microsoft, Alphabet, and Amazon’s inclination towards artificial intelligence patents only amplify AI’s growing relevance and market penetration. According to Stocklytics.com, these industry titans collectively account for about 25% of all AI patents issued in the US, showcasing their eagerness to dive deeper into the AI field and protect their inventions.

The site’s financial analyst, Edith Reads, comments

The increasing profitability of AI-powered tools and ingenuity offers big tech firms immense opportunities for future growth and relevance. Holding a robust patent portfolio can provide leverage in negotiations, partnerships, and collaborations within the AI ecosystem.

Stocklytics financial analyst, Edith Reads

AI Patents In the US

Since 2013, the US has applied for over 72,308 AI patents, granting roughly 74% of them. IBM, Microsoft, Alphabet, and Amazon secured the majority of patents.

International Business Machines Corporation (IBM), with its long-standing commitment to AI research through initiatives like IBM Watson, has secured a substantial portion of these patents. 

The company received the most patent grants, receiving nearly 8,000 AI patents in the last decade. In 2023, the corporation secured over 1,000 AI patents, indicating its enthusiasm and strong commitment to AI innovation.

In the last 10 years, IBM’s AI patent dominance has cast a long shadow over its rivals. While respectable, Alphabet’s tally of just under 2,000 filings falls considerably short of Big Blue’s.

Microsoft, meanwhile, has secured 1,747 AI patents in the US, about 366 patents less than Alphabet’s, highlighting the existing AI brawl between these two tech giants.

On the other hand, Amazon has garnered over 1300 patents in the last decade, taking the fourth slot in most AI patent grants in the US.

AI Patents Focus

IBM’s AI patent portfolio showcases a concentrated focus on Generative AI, with around 1,591 patent applications – a third more than Google and more than double the number filed by Microsoft. The company’s patents in generative AI cover diverse domains, including image, audio, text,  video technologies, and computerized biological models related to medicine and ecology.

IBM has also patented technologies aimed at enhancing machine learning and automation. This includes a 2021 patent for making virtual agents more responsive to customer emotions, as well as AI systems that can summarize key decision points from various information sources, both written and verbal, and present them in easy-to-understand visualizations.

Like IBM, Microsoft has also taken a broader approach, with patents covering generative AI technologies, AI-powered HR tools, and AI-integrated wearables like backpacks. 

Amazon’s patent landscape seems to prioritize machine learning, digitalization, and AI applications broadly. In Q1 24, almost 11% of its patents focused on machine learning, of which 9% were granted.