Artificial intelligence (AI) is no longer an abstract concept to intellectual property (IP) professionals. It has become a core capability: shaping how teams work and businesses compete. Adoption has surged from 57% in 2023 to 85% 2025, marking a decisive shift from pilots to real-world implementation. The question is no longer whether to adopt AI, but how to scale it responsibly without compromising trust.
Our new survey report, The Evolution of AI in IP: Adoption, impact and readiness, tracks sentiment among more than 400 IP professionals. It reveals how confidence grows with experience, why expectations have sharpened, and what it takes to embed AI into workflows without increasing risk.
This blog highlights three dimensions shaping the next phase of AI in IP:
- Why confidence grows with experience
- How expectations of AI’s value have sharpened
- What IP teams need in place to scale responsibly.
Why confidence in AI grows with experience
Adoption alone does not guarantee impact. Our report shows that trust in AI builds through hands-on use. As organizations expand their use of AI, success increasingly depends on trust, governance and operational readiness.
The survey reveals a strong relationship between the number of AI-enabled workflows and user confidence.
- Organizations that integrate AI into three or more workflows report significantly higher confidence and support for adoption.
- In law firms, Net Promoter Scores jump from 0% among non-users to 52% among broad adopters; corporates show a similar trend at 53%.
This reflects a core principle: confidence isn’t earned through marketing claims — it comes from consistent, defensible outcomes across repeated use.
The realities of responsible AI use in expert workflows
Optimism drove much of the early interest in AI. Today, expectations are more grounded in practical outcomes. The top benefits remain clear:
- Automation of manual tasks (51%)
- Productivity improvements (42%)
- Time savings for higher-value work (41%).
But the bar has risen. IP professionals now judge AI by its performance in real workflows, not abstract promises. Consistency, quality and defensibility are non-negotiable.
Law firms prioritize efficiency that never compromises client trust. Corporate IP teams seek scalable solutions that minimize operational and legal risk. Across the board, success depends on AI delivering outcomes that withstand scrutiny — not just accelerating processes.
What this means for you: Evaluate AI tools against practical benchmarks: accuracy, explainability and integration into existing workflows. Hype doesn’t build confidence — results do.
Scaling for growth
As AI moves deeper into IP workflows, the challenge isn’t just technical — it’s operational and ethical. Our survey shows that privacy, liability and explainability remain the top barriers to adoption, cited by 65% of attorneys. These concerns aren’t resistance; they are professional requirements in a high-stakes environment.
IP teams need clarity on foundational questions:
- How is the model trained?
- What data underpins its outputs?
- Can results be explained and defended before clients, patent offices, or courts?
Effective scaling depends on more than capability. It requires transparent data practices, auditability, and role-specific enablement. Without these guardrails, even advanced tools fall short.
What this means for you: Build governance into your AI strategy from day one. Embed operational safeguards, define accountability and ensure continuous monitoring. Responsible scale isn’t optional; it’s the foundation for trust.
Building AI you can trust
For IP professionals, speed alone is not enough. Outputs must be accurate, explainable and defensible. That’s why Clarivate builds AI capabilities around three pillars:
- High-quality, curated IP data
- Expert input from search and analytics specialists
- Transparent, explainable processes that support professional decision-making.
Every feature is developed to help IP teams integrate AI confidently and responsibly, without increasing risk.
Explore the full findings
The future of IP is already here. AI is transforming how IP and legal teams work and deliver value. If you are interested in learning more about AI trends, download ‘The Evolution of AI in IP: Adoption, impact and readiness’ now.
Alternatively, you can speak to an expert about how Clarivate can help you scale AI responsibly.
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