IPO 2025 Recap: Patent Analytics, AI Tools, and New USPTO Rules

AI-driven patent prosecution dominated conversations at the 2025 IPO Annual Meeting. From AI in patent drafting to the USPTO’s own adoption of internal tools, the shift is accelerating.

Here are the top takeaways — and what they could mean for your firm.

SUMMARY: 5 things patent teams should know from the 2025 IPO Annual Meeting

• AI is reshaping patent drafting, analytics, and prosecution workflows
• USPTO is using internal AI tools like SCOUT, SimSearch, and CPC Autoclassification
• New fee changes require smarter filing and claim strategies
• In-house teams want prosecution that aligns with business strategy
• Firms using patent analytics and automation will gain a competitive edge

AI is everywhere, and it's getting complicated

AI is being used across the IP lifecycle, from AI patent drafting tools to prior art search automation. But regulators, law firms, and in-house teams are still figuring out how to handle its legal and ethical implications.

At the 2025 IPO Annual Meeting, panels raised concerns around AI-generated content flooding the USPTO, raising novelty issues and increasing §101 rejections. Some questioned whether prosecutors should ask inventors if AI contributed to the invention.

Questions still being debated:

• Does AI-generated prior art threaten the validity of future applications?
• Should human involvement in ideation be required for inventorship?
• Are we heading toward an oversaturated, lower-quality patent ecosystem?
• Is there a world where creativity from patent professionals and AI can co-exist?

USPTO is using AI too — just not how you think

USPTO representatives detailed new AI-powered examiner tools already in use:

• SCOUT and SimSearch for similarity searching
• DesignVision for image-based searches
• Document Code Quality Control
• CPC Autoclassification

Coming soon:

• Generative tools to support §101 and §112 claim review
• AI for improper filing detection
• Internal analytics tools for examination efficiency

With more than 70% of patent examiners now working remotely, USPTO AI tools are critical for consistency and quality. Firms using patent analytics to track examiner behavior and interview success, like those using Juristat Analytics, will stay ahead.

In-house teams want more than “we got you a patent”

IP leaders emphasized a growing disconnect: Outside counsel still celebrate patents as wins, but in-house teams want strategic alignment.

They’re asking:

• How does this filing support the company’s broader IP strategy?
• Are we avoiding unnecessary costs and delays?
• Do our counsel understand the business context?

One company hosts an “IP Day” that brings together the CTO, Chief IP Counsel, outside counsel, and product teams. This is the level of partnership corporate IP teams expect.

Firms using patent analytics software like Juristat Analytics can demonstrate alignment by connecting filing outcomes to business goals.

New USPTO fees demand new prosecution strategies

The USPTO’s 2025 fee updates are already shaping filing behavior:

• First RCE up 10%, second up 40%
• Tiered CON fees based on benefit claims
• IDS certifications now required, even if fees don’t apply

Strategies that emerged at IPO:

• Filing a CON may be cheaper than a second RCE
• Use cost modeling to weigh CON vs. RCE outcomes
• Ensure docketing systems document critical dates

If your team isn't already modeling these outcomes, Juristat Analytics can help you stay compliant and cost-effective.

Law firms feel the pressure, and the divide is growing

Firms with internal automation and AI-powered workflows are better positioned to meet client demands. Others are falling behind.

What firm leaders shared at IPO:

• AI is most useful for prosecution support (like IDS), not ideation
• Clients are checking for AI-written content — and rejecting it
• Smaller firms are being judged on scalability
• Interest is growing in dashboards that track firm performance and business development

Juristat customers are filtering prospects by volume, sector, and keywords — not just classifications. This allows firms to match the right leads to their strategic capabilities.

PTAB and pharma litigation are shifting

Patent professionals are seeing an increase in litigation, especially in pharma, since the rescission of the 2022 Discretionary Denials Memo. The current climate includes:

• Rising pre-institution denials
• Pharma patents being challenged more frequently
• Broad claims sometimes getting through — but with validity concerns

Patent analytics tools will be key for law firms navigating post-grant risk. Especially in pharma, where volume and cost make patenting selective and complex.

Takeaways for your team

• Audit your AI usage — Ensure teams are tracking AI tools to prevent inventorship and quality issues
• Reevaluate your prosecution strategy — Are your workflows still cost-effective under new USPTO fees?
• Understand client goals — Connect filings to business objectives, not just patent counts
• Track examiner behavior — Use data to inform interviews and claim strategies
• Invest in scale and transparency — Clients want to see efficiency, not just results

Juristat helps patent attorneys align with their clients’ strategy, reduce costs, and gain insights into examiner behavior, RCE trends, and PTAB outcomes.

Want to learn how Juristat’s patent analytics and business development dashboards can support your team?