China leads the generative artificial intelligence patent competition

According to an article by Rahul Pandi, a doctoral student at the School of International Relations at Jawaharlal Nehru University in India, titled "China is Leading the Competition for Generative Artificial Intelligence Patents," published on the website of American diplomats on December 31, 2024, the translation is as follows:

Generative artificial intelligence is becoming a transformative technological innovation of the 21st century, reshaping the economy and society, and changing the global power landscape

The World Intellectual Property Organization recently released the "Report on the Patent Situation of Generative Artificial Intelligence", analyzing the patent application situation in the field of generative artificial intelligence. The main conclusion drawn from various sources is that Chinese companies and academic institutions are investing significant resources in high-quality research and patented inventions related to artificial intelligence

The report shows that from 2014 to 2023, the global number of patent applications related to generative artificial intelligence reached 54000. Breakthroughs in the field of deep learning have driven these advancements, as countries and businesses engage in global competition to fully utilize the potential of generative artificial intelligence technology

From the perspective of global technological competition, the generative artificial intelligence revolution led by countries such as China, the United States, and South Korea involves more than just innovation and growth. With the vigorous development of artificial intelligence technology by the country and enterprises, its impact extends beyond the economic realm. This technology will affect various aspects of our lives, as well as military capabilities, national security, global trade, and international relations

The report from the World Intellectual Property Organization emphasizes the astonishing growth of inventions related to generative artificial intelligence. More than 25% of all relevant patents studied in this report were published in 2023. China is in a leading position in this regard. From 2014 to 2023, the number of patent applications for generative artificial intelligence in China exceeded 38000, surpassing the total of all other countries

In contrast, the traditional leader in artificial intelligence, the United States, applied for over 6000 generative artificial intelligence patents during the same period. Although the United States still has some of the world's most influential artificial intelligence research institutions and companies, including Google, IBM, and Microsoft, China's active patent applications demonstrate its strategic determination to become a global leader in artificial intelligence innovation

The development of generative artificial intelligence is the result of decades of continuous efforts. The rise of deep learning and breakthroughs in neural networks at the beginning of the 21st century enabled machines to learn and generate data on an unprecedented scale. Large language models like GPT-3 and GPT-4 demonstrate a significant leap in artificial intelligence's ability to understand and generate human like language. Their commercial success has sparked a global investment boom in artificial intelligence technology

Technological advancements and significant commercial investments have driven the development of generative artificial intelligence. Pioneers such as the Open Artificial Intelligence Research Center, Google, Microsoft, and Metaverse Corporation are leading the research and application of generative artificial intelligence, and investing huge amounts of funds in related research and development

With the participation of companies such as Tencent, Baidu, and Alibaba, as well as state supported research institutions, China's increasingly prominent presence in the artificial intelligence competition is narrowing the gap and reshaping the global power structure. Generative artificial intelligence patents are not only technology, but also strategic assets. China's dominant position in related patents also indicates its greater ambition to lead the global technology ecosystem

As artificial intelligence increasingly integrates into society, the global balance of power may ultimately depend on who can control the most advanced artificial intelligence systems