A new industrial revolution from China due to AI

Authorities expect that the collaboration between intellectual property (IP) and artificial intelligence (AI) in China will bring about a massive transformation in the country's industrial growth and innovation. Rui Wenbiao, spokesperson for the China National Intellectual Property Administration, pointed out at a recent press conference that the number of patents for new-generation technologies such as artificial intelligence, the internet, cloud computing, and big data has now grown to a high percentage of 16.5% of China's total valid invention patents.

The growing number of patents in these pioneering technological fields is becoming a new driving force for the country's economic growth. By the end of June, China held 2.36 million high-value invention patents, which translates to a rate of 16.8 patents per 10,000 people. The administrative body emphasizes that this is a clear indicator of the country's rapidly growing innovation capacity. Furthermore, Mr. Rui elaborated that the 15th Five-Year Plan, which will run from 2026 to 2030, will be a crucial period for expanding the digital economy.

To support these goals, relevant administrative bodies are already further refining patent examination standards for future technologies such as AI-related systems and brain-computer interfaces. Additionally, Liu Yi, head of the Administration's Contracts and Laws Department, stated that China will strengthen its research on trademark registration and patent examination standards over the next five years to successfully address complex issues arising from artificial intelligence technology. China also aims to expand its global influence in legislating international intellectual property laws in fields such as artificial intelligence, medical diagnostics, and green technology.

According to Liu Bin, an expert intellectual property lawyer at Beijing's Zhongwen Law Firm, these modern technologies are moving beyond mere talking points and becoming fundamental factors in overall industrial innovation. As a result, the integration of artificial intelligence into mainstream sectors such as manufacturing, the automotive industry, healthcare, and finance will accelerate. However, he strongly warns against measuring a country's technological competitiveness based solely on the number of patents. Mr. Liu emphasizes that what truly matters is whether the relevant patents cover core technologies, whether they can be legally and reliably enforced, and whether they can be transformed into actual commercial products and revenue streams.