The “Gold Rush” in Ai and Robotics Patenting Activity. Do Innovation Systems Have a Role?

Abstract

The aim  of this paper is to examine the trends in patenting activity within the domains of artificial intelligence and robotics. In particular, its aim is to identify the evolutionary patterns of patenting practices in areas that have invested the most significant amount of resources in these technologies.    A time series econometric methodology is proposed for the first time to investigate the long--run differences between them. Moreover, this paper introduces in the literature the novel distinction between AI--enhanced robots and traditional robots.The evolution of inventions and technological advances in terms of AI and robotics is explored, by outlining first the various structural breaks, and then the patterns of stationarity and cointegration.The paper addresses the differences in these patterns by advocating to some institutional characteristics that emerge in comparing different technological systems. The relationship between AI and the different types of robots depends on the innovation system whereby the innovations are developed. In particular, structural differences emerge between the countries most involved in these innovations: China, EU, Japan, South Korea, the US.

Keywords: Patenting activity, artificial intelligence, robotics