Takeaway: The U.K. Supreme Court has ruled that artificial intelligence cannot be recognized as an inventor on patents, emphasizing the requirement for a “natural person” behind inventions.

The U.K. Supreme Court has ruled that artificial intelligence cannot be named as an inventor on a patent under current legislation, emphasizing the requirement for a “natural person” behind an invention, rejecting AI researcher Stephen Thaler’s argument that he programmed his AI, DABUS, to invent independently. This decision is seen as a significant clarification on the limitations of patenting AI-created inventions and raises policy questions about the evolving landscape of AI technology and patent systems. Only time will tell how other countries will also perceive if AI is allowed intellectual property rights.