AI and IP: What stays, what’s next?
Participants expressed fears over already seeing the replacement of humans, while others offered a sense of optimism.
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Participants expressed fears over already seeing the replacement of humans, while others offered a sense of optimism.
Artificial intelligence (AI) has come a long way since the term was first coined in the 1950s —from its founding as a field at a Dartmouth Conference to now existing amongst us and with us.
This raises an important question about how we create and innovate, and what intellectual property (IP) means to society today.
At yesterday’s forum organized by the Intellectual Property Office of the Philippines on “Leveraging Intellectual Property to Enable Innovation and Fuel Inclusive Growth,” I joined a panel attempting to answer this question.
Participants expressed fears over already seeing the replacement of humans while others offered a sense of optimism. To better assess how we should feel about AI, it’s critical to face three questions: what changes, what stays, and what’s next.
First, what changes?
Today, AI can help invent products, write articles, design logos, and produce creative works in minutes. This challenges traditional concepts of authorship and inventorship. Around the world, questions are being asked: Who owns AI-generated content? Can AI be an inventor? How should copyrighted materials be used to train AI systems?
These are complex issues, and many IP offices and courts are still developing the answers.
Second, what stays?
While technology is changing, the purpose of intellectual property remains the same — to encourage innovation, reward creativity, and promote economic growth.
Patents continue to protect inventions. Copyright protects original human expression. Trademarks build trust in brands. The core values of originality, fairness, and accountability remain as relevant as ever.
Most importantly, human creativity remains at the heart of the IP system. AI is a powerful tool, but it should enhance — not replace — human ingenuity. We must support real breathing artists and call for stronger transparency and integrity over the claim of ownership over works.
Finally, what’s next?
The future calls for balanced and forward-looking policies. Governments, businesses, universities, and creators must work together to develop clear rules that encourage innovation while protecting intellectual property rights.
For the Philippines, AI presents a tremendous opportunity. By combining AI with a strong intellectual property system, we can empower Filipino innovators, researchers, startups, and creative industries to compete globally.
So while AI is changing the way we innovate, it does not change why intellectual property exists. Innovation will always begin with human imagination. AI may accelerate creativity, but it is people who provide the vision, judgment, and responsibility.
Our challenge is not to choose between AI and humans, but to build an IP system where both work together to create a more innovative and prosperous future.
