What technologies are at the core of AI?
An exploration based on patent data
This report outlines a new methodology and provides a first exploratory analysis of
technologies and applications that are at the core of recent advances in AI. Using
AI-related keywords and technology classes, the study identifies AI-related patents
protected in the United States in 2000-18. Among those, “core” AI patents are selected
based on their counts of AI-related forward citations. The analysis finds that, compared
to other (AI and non-AI) patents, they are more original and general, and tend to
be broader in technological scope. Technologies related to general AI, robotics, computer/image
vision and recognition/detection are consistently listed among core AI patents, with
autonomous driving and deep learning having recently become more prominent. Finally,
core AI patents tend to spur innovation across AI-related domains, although some technologies
– likely AI applications, such as autonomous driving or robotics – appear to increasingly
contribute to developments in their own field.
Published on November 13, 2023
In series:OECD Artificial Intelligence Papersview more titles