The evolution of AI in IP: Adoption, impact and readiness
Discover where AI is driving the greatest impact in IP, the challenges that remain and how to turn adoption into lasting value.
Our report, The evolution of AI in IP, is your essential guide for understanding how artificial intelligence (AI) is being embedded into intellectual property (IP) workflows around the world. Inside the report, you’ll find insights from our survey of over 400 IP professionals from law firms, corporate IP departments and R&D teams, covering adoption trends, use cases, trust benchmarks and readiness strategies.
From sentiment scoring to role-based analysis, this report offers insight into how AI capabilities are being integrated into IP workflows and what it takes to scale for lasting benefits.
Why download the report?
- Benchmark your AI readiness against peers in law firms, corporations and against R&D professionals.
- Understand the evolving role of AI–based solutions in high-trust IP environments.
- Explore role-specific insights into AI adoption, benefits and barriers.
- Learn what’s needed for sustainable integration: from governance to training.
- Gain strategic foresight into how AI tools will shape the future of IP practice.
- Discover how AI fits into your IP strategy and how it can set your team apart.
Key findings
- 85% of IP professionals now use AI in some capacity. This has increased from 57% in 2023.
- Comfort levels are rising. Executives and R&D professionals are most comfortable, though attorneys remain cautious.
- AI use cases are maturing and diversifying. Top AI use cases include R&D, competitive intelligence and patentability analysis.
- Expectations have shifted. The benefits of AI tools are now being measured by outcomes, not potential.
- Trust grows with experience. Organizations that use AI capabilities in three or more workflows show significantly higher satisfaction and advocacy for AI.
- Change management is critical. The pace of AI adoption has overtaken the pace of organizational readiness, with technical, cultural and institutional barriers impeding progress.
Methodology
Clarivate conducted a global survey of 400+ IP and R&D professionals between June 30 and July 31, 2025. Respondents spanned:
- Geographies: Europe (44%), North America (26%), Asia-Pacific (21%), MENA (8%), South America (1%)
- Roles: Attorneys and in-house counsel (37%), executives (22%), R&D professionals (10%) and operations managers, analysts, and paralegals (31% combined)
- Focus areas: Patents (55%), trademarks (16%), both (27%)
The survey explored adoption patterns, perceptions, use cases, and barriers. There was no fixed definition of AI in the survey, allowing respondents to reflect on real-world usage.
