The USPTO is deploying AI agents to help patent examiners complete routine administrative and technical tasks as the agency works to address a backlog of approximately 700,000 patent applications. Acting Commissioner for Patents Barry Schindler said the technology could improve consistency and potentially reduce examination timelines from as long as five years to about one year. The agency is using tools such as Compass to automate portions of the review process, allowing examiners to focus on substantive patentability issues and direct communication with applicants. However, AI is intended to assist rather than replace human examiners, whose expertise and judgment remain essential to the examination process.