Google just claimed the AI patent crown, unseating IBM to become the new heavyweight champ in generative AI. And it’s not stopping there – Google is also leading the charge in the emerging space of agentic AI, according to fresh data from IFI Claims.
The report, covering the past 14 months (Feb 2024–April 2025), puts Google and Nvidia at the top of the U.S. leaderboard for agentic AI patents, with IBM, Intel, and Microsoft chasing their tailpipes.
Zooming out globally, China’s catching up fast. Three Chinese universities cracked the top 10 for agentic AI patents, signaling a not-so-subtle nudge to America’s long-standing dominance in this tech frontier.
When it comes to generative AI, Google is still the global frontrunner – but six of the top 10 patent holders now hail from China. Microsoft takes a strong third, while Nvidia and IBM keep themselves in the mix.
Notably missing? Meta and OpenAI. Meta’s busy building open-source tools, while OpenAI says it’s filing defensively (translation: they’re not out here hoarding patents – yet).
Meanwhile, patent filings in generative AI have exploded in the U.S., jumping 56% in a year. Generative AI now accounts for 17% of all AI-related filings in the States, while agentic AI clocks in at 7%. Globally, the numbers are even higher: 23% for generative AI and 5% for agentic AI.
The takeaway? The AI patent race is heating up – and Google just lapped the competition.
