Automated Search Pilot: USPTO's First Step Toward AI-Assisted Examination

USPTO launches new AI Pilot for pre-examination utility application search

The Artificial Intelligence Search Automated Pilot Program will provide applicants with AI prior art search results to improve examination quality and efficiency.

Automated Search Pilot: USPTO's First Step Toward AI-Assisted Examination

By Dennis Crouch The USPTO Automated Pre-Examination Search Pilot Program launched today.  Here is how it works: Applicants filing original utility applications can petition to receive an Automated Search Results Notice (ASRN) before human examiner review. The pilot is currently limited to only 1,600 applications over the next six months. [PTO-P-2025-0011].  The ASRN program represents a modest but significant implementation of AI-assisted exami…