The Data on AI
By Christopher Steiner
The landscape of AI patents showcases the dominance of major technology companies, with IBM leading the charge. Below is a closer look at the 10 companies with the most AI-related patents—those containing terms like "AI," "Artificial Intelligence," or "Machine Learning" in their titles or descriptions.
IBM’s dominance in AI patents is rooted in its long history of innovation. Despite transforming into a consulting company in recent years, IBM has been filing AI-related patents since the 1970s. The company pioneered the field of AI with research into machine learning algorithms and natural language processing, laying the foundation for modern AI systems like IBM Watson. Today, IBM continues to focus on AI through various applications, from healthcare to enterprise solutions, making it no surprise that it leads with 1,200 patents.
Microsoft has rapidly grown its AI capabilities, both through internal research and strategic acquisitions. With its cloud platform Azure, Microsoft has positioned itself as a leader in providing AI tools and services for developers and businesses. Microsoft’s AI for Earth initiative and its integration of AI into products like Office have earned it 683 AI-related patents.
As one of the world’s largest semiconductor companies, Intel’s AI-related patents are tied to its efforts to improve hardware performance for machine learning and AI workloads. With innovations like the Intel Nervana and Xeon processors, Intel holds a strong position with 375 AI-related patents.
Alphabet, Google’s parent company, has been at the forefront of AI research with its subsidiary DeepMind. Google has embedded AI in nearly every aspect of its business, from search algorithms to autonomous driving. Alphabet has secured 344 AI-related patents through its broad and impactful AI initiatives.
Qualcomm’s AI patents focus on improving AI efficiency in mobile devices. The company’s Snapdragon processors, equipped with AI capabilities, power smartphones and mobile devices globally. This specialization in mobile AI has earned Qualcomm 293 AI-related patents.
Accenture’s presence in AI patenting is due to its focus on digital transformation. By applying AI to solve business challenges across industries, Accenture has amassed 292 patents, furthering its leadership in deploying AI solutions for clients worldwide.
Capital One, a financial services company, has heavily invested in AI for fraud detection, customer service, and personalized financial services. There’s also speculation that some of its patents may belong to clients, potentially explaining its 269 AI-related patents.
Amazon’s AI research spans from Alexa to AI-powered recommendation engines for its e-commerce platform. Additionally, Amazon Web Services (AWS) provides AI and machine learning tools like Amazon SageMaker. These efforts contribute to its 259 AI-related patents.
Adobe’s AI efforts are primarily focused on creative tools. Its AI platform, Adobe Sensei, powers features in Photoshop, Illustrator, and its digital marketing suite, enabling AI-powered design and analytics. Adobe holds 213 AI-related patents.
Oracle’s AI patents focus on enterprise solutions, optimizing databases, cloud infrastructure, and supply chain management with AI. Oracle’s integration of AI into its enterprise software earns it 180 AI-related patents.