USPTO’s Robert Hayes highlights rapid gains from AI tools

Robert Hayes, Acting Chief AI Officer and Acting Chief Data Officer at the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office, discussed the transition of AI pilot projects into operational use. He highlighted a significant improvement in the trademark pre-application process, reducing a five-month backlog to five seconds with three new AI tools. On the patent side, numerous AI tools, including the FedRAMP-approved chatbot Scout, are being deployed. Hayes emphasized the importance of quality control, stakeholder feedback and maintaining a human-in-the-loop approach. The agency is also rolling out an AI Change Management Program to educate employees on AI’s role and benefits.