Artificial intelligence (AI) is transforming industries worldwide, raising questions about which countries are leading the innovation race. While patent filings offer one measure, volume alone doesn't guarantee dominance.
China leads in AI patent filings, with over 38,000 generative AI patents filed between 2014 and 2023. However, only a small percentage (7.3%) were filed internationally. Moreover, China's AI patent approval rate is lower compared to other major economies. In April 2024, China's Ministry of Industry and Information indicated an AI patent approval rate of 32%, lower than the general patent grant ratio of 55% in 2023. This contrasts with Japan (70%) and Canada (77%).
Despite filing fewer patents, the U.S. plays a crucial role in guiding global AI development. In 2024, U.S. organizations produced 40 significant AI models, compared to 15 in China. U.S. AI patents and publications also receive significantly more global citations, highlighting their substantial influence. For example, OpenAI's publications have received 11,816 citations, ranking 13th globally, despite publishing only 48 articles.