💡 Can AI File Patents?

Hey TEDchats Fam!

Happy Friday! Did you hear about the AI that walked into a patent office? No, it's not the start of a joke, but the beginning of a story that's rewriting the rules of innovation. In a world where machines dream up inventions, who ends up holding the pen — and the patent?

👀 SNEAK PEEK

🚨FEATURE STORY

The Clash Between Law and Technology

Imagine an artificial intelligence system creating something entirely new, a product of sheer digital brilliance. But who gets the credit? This question is no longer hypothetical, as the U.K. Supreme Court's recent ruling brings a sharp focus to the evolving relationship between AI and intellectual property law.

What Happens When a Machine Invents?

The controversy centers around DABUS, an AI system developed by Dr. Stephen Thaler. In a groundbreaking move back in 2018, Thaler sought to register DABUS as the inventor of two products: a novel beverage container and a flame device for search-and-rescue missions. This move challenged traditional notions of invention and ownership, which was previously the exclusive domain of humans or legal entities like companies.

AI Cannot Be an Inventor!

A year after filing, the U.K. Intellectual Property Office rejected Thaler's patent applications, stating that inventors must be either human or a company. Dr. Thaler’s appeal of this decision was subsequently dismissed in the U.K. High Court and Court of Appeal. This stance was echoed in the U.S., where Thaler's further appeal met a similar fate and was denied by the U.S. Supreme Court.

Now, Dr Thaler has appealed to the U.K. Supreme Court, and the results are in. Led by Judge David Kitchin, the court ruled on 20 December, 2023, that under current law, a machine cannot be deemed a creator (see Judgement video).

Is This Really the End for Non-Human Inventors?

With this clear-cut decision, the legal framework, as it stands in both the U.S. and U.K., does not recognize AI as capable of being a creator or inventor. The resolution effectively closes the door, for now, on recognizing AI systems as creators in the eyes of the law, leaving AI innovations to be attributed to their human operators or owning entities.

But, as AI continues to evolve, blurring the lines between human and machine creativity, will the legal system adapt? The conversation is still in its infancy, with a stage now set for a significant legal and philosophical battle.

🍕 QUICK BITES

A Prominent Chinese AI Startup is Coming to the U.S.

Founded in 2018 and advised by renowned mathematician Weinan E, Chinese startup DP Technology is making strides “by fusing artificial intelligence with physics-based modeling and simulation”. Their focus is on enhancing scientific computing for diverse applications such as pharmaceutical research and semiconductor development. With an estimated $140 million in funding, DP is now gearing up to expand its innovative AI applications to the U.S. by opening an office and establishing distribution centers (read more).

Stability AI Introduces Paid Membership

Stability AI, known to produce “AI by the people for the people”, now offers a subscription service with multiple tiers for commercial use of its AI models. This new structure includes a free tier for personal use and research, a $20 monthly subscription for small-scale creators and startups, and an enterprise plan. The company's move aims to standardize commercial rights usage while supporting ongoing AI research and development (read more).

How Can Online Abuse Be Prevented?

Intrinsic, co-founded by former Apple engineers Karine Mellata and Michael Lin, is developing an AI-based platform for content moderation. Designed to assist trust and safety teams in social media and e-commerce, the platform aims to automate the detection and management of “online abuse problems that hurt people, such as misinformation, hate speech, or scams”. Currently hiring, Intrinsic's approach focuses on adaptability to the constantly evolving patterns of online threats, offering a customizable solution for content moderation, particularly for content generated by AI (read more).

🧰 AI TOOLBOX 

🤯 MIND SPARK

AI with Vision Enhances 3D Printing: Now, a 3D printer can “watch itself” and decide how much resin to use, preventing squished or smeared resins and allowing for more refined 3D constructions (read more).

The PhoMoH Team is Back: Not to be confused with “FOMO”, PhoMoH refers to Photorealistic 3D Models of Human Heads. As part of Google Research's Machine Perception unit, the research group will be presenting their newest findings at the International Conference on 3D Vision 2024 (see more).

When Will Trains Travel at the Speed of Planes? Well, it seems like it won't happen anytime soon. The transportation startup Hyperloop One, which once promised trains at the speed of planes and was backed with $450 million in funding, is shutting down, selling assets, and closing offices (read more).

🎨 AI ART