AI use at the EPO
Last updated: 14.8.2026
Supporting the patent grant process through a human-centric approach
As part of its digital transformation, the EPO is integrating AI solutions throughout the patent grant process to support staff, improve efficiency and maintain the high-quality standards expected by applicants and stakeholders worldwide.
The foundations of AI use at the EPO were established in the areas of pre-search, classification and file allocation. AI systems help route incoming applications, support the classification of patent documents and facilitate the identification of relevant prior art, enabling examiners to navigate an ever-growing volume of technical information more efficiently. These capabilities have become an integral part of the search process and contribute to both consistency and productivity.
Building on these foundations, the EPO continues to expand the use of AI across the patent grant process. Recent developments include the introduction of an in-house AI-supported OCR pipeline for patent documents, improving the extraction and processing of textual information from patent literature and reducing reliance on external providers.
At the same time, new AI-based tools are being developed to support examiners during the examination phase, helping them analyse information, draft communications and access relevant knowledge more effectively. Our own generative AI-based Legal Interactive Platform provides patent examiners, other EPO staff and external users with procedural information through a conversational interface.
AI is also being deployed to support administrative and procedural tasks, a recent example being AI-assisted minute-writing for oral proceedings. Following successful pilots, the EPO has extended the use of AI-assisted minute preparation to all oral proceedings, further streamlining administrative work while preserving quality and reliability.
Looking ahead, the next generation of AI tools at the EPO will increasingly focus on providing context-aware support through specialised AI assistants and agents. These solutions will be designed to assist examiners and formalities officers at specific stages of the patent grant process, delivering relevant information, guidance and task-specific support directly to their working environment. By providing the right knowledge and tools within the right context and at the right time, these AI capabilities have the potential to further enhance quality, consistency and user experience.
These developments are guided by the EPO's human-centric approach to AI. AI is designed to augment human expertise rather than replace it. Patent examiners, formalities officers and legal experts remain responsible for all substantive decisions and outputs. AI provides support, suggestions and automation where appropriate, while accountability, quality assurance and professional judgement remain firmly in human hands.
The EPO's AI strategy is built on trust, transparency and responsible governance. AI solutions are developed and deployed within a robust framework that takes into account ethical considerations, data protection, information security and user feedback. Continuous monitoring and quality control ensure that AI systems remain reliable, secure and aligned with the EPO's high standards.
By combining human expertise with the capabilities of artificial intelligence, the EPO is creating a more efficient, resilient and future-oriented patent grant process while safeguarding the quality, legal certainty and trust that underpin the European patent system. At the EPO, AI is not about replacing experts; it is about empowering them with intelligent, context-aware support so that they can apply their expertise where it delivers the greatest value.
Can I use AI to draft applications?
Parties may use AI for drafting applications and preparing submissions in patent grant proceedings. Under the EPC, it is the content of a submission that matters, not its origin. Irrespective of the use of modern digital tools such as AI, parties and their representatives remain fully responsible for ensuring that their submissions are accurate.