Dylan Clements reacted on this
AI is coming to the Patent Office
The USPTO just announced its new Artificial Intelligence Search Automated Pilot (ASAP!) Program, aimed at using AI tools to help examiners run pre-examination prior art searches. In short, the Office’s AI will issue an early “top ten list” of potential prior art references before substantive examination even starts. Applicants will receive this AI-generated search report, called the AI-Assisted Search Results Notice (ASRN), and can decide whether to amend claims, prepare supporting evidence, request deferral, or even withdraw the case and recover certain fees.
Recently confirmed USPTO Director John Squires has promised to “lean-in” to AI and is prioritizing the use of the technology to improve efficiency across the Office. In the announcement, Director Squires noted that “Quality starts at filing… and ASAP! is designed to help examiners and applicants alike ensure their patents are born strong.”
I believe this new AI pilot is a much-needed step toward improving the quality of patent examination, and by extension, the quality of issued patents. Anything that improves early visibility into prior art helps both examiners and applicants save time, reduce costs, and shorten the path to a granted patent. Right now, applicants often wait 12 to 24 months for their first Office Action, with total pendency sometimes reaching 32 months or more. If this program works as intended, it could reduce those delays, give applicants a chance to refine claims earlier, and lead to faster, stronger patents overall.
At Clements IP, we’ll be watching closely to see how this pilot develops. If done right, AI tools like this could make patent prosecution faster, clearer, and maybe even a little less painful for everyone involved.