This infographic shows the number of AI-related patents granted each year from 2010 to 2022 (the latest data available). The figures come from the Center for Security and Emerging Technology (CSET), accessed via Stanford University’s 2024 AI Index Report.
This data shows that China first overtook the U.S. in 2013. Since then, the country has seen enormous growth in the number of AI patents granted yearly.
This was originally posted on their Voronoi app. Download the app for free on iOS or Android and discover incredible data-driven charts from various trusted sources.
In 2022, China was granted more patents than every other country combined.
While this suggests that the country is very active in researching artificial intelligence, it doesn’t necessarily mean that China is the farthest in terms of capability.
Key Facts About AI Patents
According to CSET, AI patents relate to mathematical relationships and algorithms, which are considered abstract ideas under patent law. They can also have different meanings, depending on where they are filed.
In the U.S., AI patenting is concentrated among large companies, including IBM, Microsoft, and Google. On the other hand, AI patenting in China is more distributed across government organizations, universities, and tech firms (e.g. Tencent).
In terms of focus area, China’s patents are typically related to computer vision, an AI field that enables computers and systems to interpret visual data and inputs. Meanwhile, America’s efforts are more evenly distributed across research fields.
Learn More About AI From Visual Capitalist
If you want to see more data visualizations on artificial intelligence, check out this graphic that shows which job departments will be impacted by AI the most.
https://www.visualcapitalist.com/visualizing-ai-patents-by-country
Further Reading: