The USPTO is also exploring ways to responsibly bring Large Language Models (LLMs) capabilities to the agency. While the use of generative AI tools is banned for drafting documents, there is no prohibition against their use for submissions to the USPTO. The agency is also allowing its employees to use these tools within an internal testing environment to understand their capabilities and limitations better.
Key takeaways:
- The US Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) has banned the use of generative AI tools like ChatGPT due to concerns over bias, unpredictability, and malicious behavior.
- Despite the ban, the USPTO is still using AI tools to help with the examination of millions of legal documents every year, including AI-enabled prior art searches.
- USPTO employees are allowed to use generative AI tools within an internal testing environment to understand the capabilities and limitations of AI.
- While the USPTO is committed to maximizing AI’s benefits, it recognizes the need to mitigate risks arising from the use of AI in practice before the USPTO.