AI applications dominated conversations at the AIPPI World Congress in Hamburg, which concluded on 10 October. Unlike previous years, discussions centered less on patentability, the UPC, or arbitration in SEP disputes and more on how to integrate artificial intelligence into intellectual property work.
During a 30-minute AIPPI Café session titled “AI, TK and the ‘Derivative Knowledge’ Dilemma: When algorithms learn from culture,” approximately 30 participants explored technical and practical considerations. A spontaneous poll revealed that most attendees rely on general AI tools, with Anthropic’s Claude being particularly popular, alongside ChatGPT, Gemini, and Copilot. Only five participants reported using IP-specific AI solutions. Most participants use AI tools daily, and the impetus to adopt AI often came from the wider corporate environment or personal initiative rather than the IP department.
Implementation Challenges and Cultural Shifts
The discussion shifted to implementing AI within law firms and in-house departments. One participant shared that a single colleague in their company’s patent department was actively driving AI adoption, assisting others. When a lawyer assumed this individual was young, the in-house counsel corrected them, revealing the person was an older gentleman nearing retirement, which prompted laughter.
Cultural resistance emerged as a key issue. Several participants reported employees resigning rather than adopting AI, while others left to join AI development firms. Many questioned how to train and motivate staff amid job security concerns. One attendee expressed difficulty in motivating colleagues when their own role felt uncertain.
The program included six sessions, with five on Thursday, 8 October. Topics ranged from AI and IT to panel discussions on patent protection for AI-generated creations. AI remained the central theme across formal and informal discussions.
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At evening receptions, lawyers expressed personal reservations about AI. Many are not yet convinced of its value, feeling it is progressing too quickly with unclear consequences for their profession.
The following morning, the SGT Café session on “Agentic AI for IP Professionals” focused on practical challenges. Participants discussed how AI agents could manage increasing data volumes. While many remain skeptical, there was agreement that AI tools are already improving daily work quality, primarily in patent prosecution.
High-Level Roundtable and Institutional Responses
A high-level roundtable addressed AI’s implications for patent systems centered on human creativity. EPO President António Campinos participated, alongside representatives from various patent offices and organizations. Discussions focused on how AI might reshape inventorship and innovation, feeding into institutional efforts like AIPPI’s resolutions on AI and copyright, inventorship, and inventive step.
Looking Ahead to Policy and Practice
The Standing Committee on AI, IT and the Internet will revisit the topic at its mid-term meeting in Mexico City in February 2027. Case studies will inform future consultations, shaping practical guidance for AI integration into IP practice.
