US Issues New Patent Guidelines, Says AI Cannot Be Listed as Inventor

Nov 28, 2025 - 13:00
US Issues New Patent Guidelines, Says AI Cannot Be Listed as Inventor
The USPTO has issued new guidelines confirming that AI-assisted inventions will be treated like any other under US patent law and that AI systems cannot be listed as inventors. The agency says generative AI should be viewed as a tool, with only humans eligible for inventorship. Earlier proposals for joint inventor standards involving AI have been withdrawn, and examiners will continue applying existing human-focused criteria.