The U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) has launched a new Artificial Intelligence Search Automated Pilot (ASAP!) Program aimed at improving the quality, speed, and efficiency of patent examinations. The initiative marks a significant step in the agency’s ongoing efforts to integrate AI into its operations.
The ASAP! Program will test an internal AI tool designed to conduct pre-examination prior art searches, helping patent examiners and applicants identify potential issues earlier in the process. Under Secretary of Commerce for Intellectual Property and USPTO Director John A. Squires said the initiative fulfills the agency’s promise to “lean-in to AI” to strengthen the patent system from the outset.
“Our ASAP! announcement today is the first of many planned AI pilots designed to help examiners and applicants alike ensure their patents are born strong,” Squires said. “Quality starts at filing—and our enterprising examiners have developed new tools that reimagine workflows and attack chokepoints that constrain productivity, throughput, and ultimately quality for new applicants.”
Through the pilot, applicants will receive an AI-Assisted Search Results Notice (ASRN) identifying a “top ten list” of prior art concerns before substantive examination begins. This early feedback will allow applicants to refine their filings or respond strategically, whether by submitting amendments, providing supporting evidence, or seeking deferral.
The USPTO’s AI system uses contextual data from the Cooperative Patent Classification (CPC) system, as well as application details such as claims and abstracts. The agency will analyze the pilot’s results to evaluate the tool’s scalability and inform future AI initiatives.
Applicants interested in participating must submit a petition and fee. Additional details are available in the Federal Register Notice and on the USPTO’s website.
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