Protecting Innovation in the Age of AI
Suiter Swantz IP co‑owner and patent attorney, Matt A. Poulsen, recently presented “Protecting Innovation in the Age of AI” at a Lunch & Learn hosted by The Combine.
The presentation addressed how innovators can protect patent rights while incorporating AI into research, development, and business workflows.
The discussion was later featured in Silicon Prairie News in the article, How Not to Jeopardize Your Potential Patents with AI, which summarized key considerations for startups and technology companies navigating this evolving landscape.
Key Takeaways
Matt’s presentation reinforced several foundational principles of patent strategy, while highlighting how AI complicates their application:
- Patents remain a critical business asset. Well‑documented intellectual property can support investment, acquisitions, and long‑term competitive advantage.
- Early and consistent documentation is essential. Invention disclosures and provisional patent applications help preserve rights before public disclosure.
- Inventorship must remain human. Under current U.S. law, AI systems cannot be named as inventors, making it important to clearly document human contributions to AI‑assisted inventions.
- Public AI tools carry risk. Using open or consumer AI platforms for ideation, drafting, or due diligence may result in unintended public disclosure, loss of confidentiality, or privilege concerns.
As AI tools become more deeply integrated into innovation processes, careful planning and documentation are increasingly important to avoid unintentionally undermining patent protection.
We appreciate The Combine for hosting this timely discussion and Silicon Prairie News for its coverage. Stay tuned for more updates and insights on intellectual property developments affecting emerging technologies.