RECOGNIZING ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE AS THE INVENTOR IN PATENT LAW

“A prudent question is one-half of wisdom.” – Francis Bacon

Can artificial intelligence truly invent? And if so, should it be recognized as an inventor under patent law? This book explores one of the most pressing and controversial legal questions of our time: the role of artificial intelligence in innovation and its legal recognition within the global patent system.

At the heart of this work is the high-profile case of DABUS, an AI system developed by Stephen Thaler. Starting in the UK and followed by the US and other PCT countries, patent applications were filed naming DABUS as the inventor. What were the legal arguments in these cases? Did DABUS genuinely create inventions autonomously? And how did courts across jurisdictions respond?

This book not only analyzes judicial decisions but also offers essential background for understanding the topic: What exactly is artificial intelligence? What is machine learning? Why has the debate around AI inventorship become so intense, and how have media narratives and commercial interests amplified it?

As Andrew Ng has noted, AI is becoming a transformative, general-purpose technology — “the new electricity.” Yet the author argues that AI, for now and the foreseeable future, remains a sophisticated tool rather than a source of independent creativity. The legal system must assess AI’s role thoughtfully, without attributing human qualities or overstating its capabilities.

This book is an essential read for legal professionals, technologists, and anyone interested in the intersection of law and emerging technologies. With clarity and depth, it invites readers to consider where AI fits within the innovation ecosystem — and where it does not.