China Has Accumulated 70% of the World’s AI Patents

Key takeaways

• China has accumulated 70% of global AI patents, according the 2025 AI Index Report
• America’s share has fallen from roughly 40% in 2010, to 14% in 2023

Methodology

Note that 2023 is the most recent year for which data is accessible. All figures were sourced from patent-level bibliographic records in PATSTAT Global, provided by the European Patent Office (EPO). 

More about AI patents

• According to the Center for Security and Emerging Technology (CSET), AI patents relate to mathematical relationships and algorithms, which are considered abstract ideas under patent law
• In the U.S., AI patenting is largely concentrated among companies like IBM, Microsoft, and Google
• In China, AI patenting is more distributed across tech firms (e.g. Baidu, Tencent), government organizations, and universities.