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Abstract

For several decades, patents have been utilized in analyzing technology and forecasting future trends. Historically, this has been done via keywords, citations, and some bibliometric approaches. The efficiency that is promised by artificial intelligence (AI), machine learning, natural language processing, and related technologies has also heavily entered the domain of intellectual property. There is a growing body of research that is using AI technologies to analyze, learn, and make predictions for patents. Some of the most common applications in practice are those that assist searchers and examiners in review of patents. Journals such as World Patent Information have even developed special issues around this important topic for today’s society. This article provides a historical perspective on patent analyses followed by an overview of approaches within the literature for AI technologies applied to patents and possible approaches for researchers and librarians interested in this work.

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