What embracing AI tools means for young IP professionals

Last month, as part of its AI Strategy, the United States Patent Office announced its intention to embrace AI tools in its internal processes, a decision with significant implications for those now entering the IP profession.  

Globally, this movement towards the adoption of AI tools in internal processes is becoming increasingly popular, not just in IP but broadly – and particularly in North America. Notably, Elon Musk has cited an AI-forward approach in his work with the US Government’s Department of Government Efficiency, utilising AI tools with the goal of reducing costs and waste. 

Currently, many IP offices, agencies and firms globally have employed AI tools in their processes, and the USPTO’s AI Strategy will likely contribute to the continued global adoption of these tools. As of 2025, approximately 80% of USPTO examiners have used AI tools in IP processes.  

It’s clear that embracing AI tools is an aspect of the future of the IP profession, and young professionals must be prepared to balance the efficiency and convenience of these tools while developing understandings of the crucial intricacies of the IP system.  

Efficiency, insight and trust 

As in any industry, a key benefit of the adoption of AI tools in processes is work made simpler, faster and more efficient, a valuable effect for practitioners, and one that a new generation of practicing “AI natives” will benefit from in a number of ways.  

“For patent offices, developing and investing in AI tools for aspects such as searching and official action report writing will enable them to process applications more promptly – and then we have less backlog, which is good for everybody,” said Griffith Hack Special Counsel Anthony Selleck.  

There is also potential for clients to benefit from these tools, fast-tracking the application review process. 

“We should be looking to find the same kinds of tools and use those in our own work, including searching, prior art analysis and, where appropriate, assessing our patent applications and amendments to determine whether they’re written in a way that will survive examination and get the client the scope of protection that they need,” said Smart & Biggar Principal Bhupinder Randhawa.  

However, achieving excellence cannot be built on AI tools alone.  

“One of the challenges is ensuring that people who are new to the industry are trained appropriately, because if they’re using a lot of these tools, they’re not doing as much work themselves, and potentially missing the very basic learning and experience that comes from methodically analysing and working through a wide range of complex situations and matters. We have to be very mindful of that when developing a team – if a trainee overuses automated tools for the easy stuff, they will find it much more difficult to understand the complicated stuff,” said Randhawa.  

Achieving balance 

With these tools, it is crucial for practitioners to apply critical thought.  

“I think the one thing that will be very important is critical judgement – do you know how to ask a question correctly or what you are looking for? And can you identify what is probably right versus what is probably wrong and how to verify your sources?,” said ROBIC Principal Vincent Bergeron.  

While there are risks involved, and a long way to go until AI processes for patents and trade marks are consistently accurate and reliable, embracing AI tools as they come while uplifting the critical thought and decision-making skills essential to patent practice is the key.  

“There’s always room for people who will embrace technology, try to predict and understand the evolution of our profession in the future and prepare themselves to provide excellent service in that context. We should proactively figure out how client requirements will change as technology evolves and be prepared to help them sort those problems out. AI is an opportunity for practitioners to tool their practices to be more efficient and prepare to provide really excellent service,” Randhawa added. 

“I think that the key to success is to embrace technological evolution and not fight against it. It’s going to happen anyway. The difference is whether we are dragged along with it, or we are the leaders that leverage it for our business and that of our clients.”