Autonomous AI Agents Patent Landscape 2026
Autonomous AI Agents Patent Landscape in 2026
The autonomous AI agents patent field spans 4,918 patent families in scope, with Intel Corporation holding the clear lead and the top five filers controlling 27% of the hundred largest filers’ combined total. Activity is in a confirmed Growth stage, with the multi-year window up 43%, and the technology mix is heavily anchored in AI model computing and digital data processing.
Intel leads a moderately concentrated field with a clear tier gap at the top
Intel Corporation ranks first with 219 patent families, nearly 71% ahead of the second-ranked Strong Force TX Portfolio 2018 LLC at 128 patent families. British Telecom and IBM are tied at 94 patent families each, followed by Samsung Electronics at 91.
The top five filers account for 27% of the hundred largest filers’ combined total, indicating moderate concentration: a dominant leader exists, but the remaining field is competitive enough to prevent total lock-in by any single player.
| # | Applicant | Patent families | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Intel Corporation | 219 | |
| 2 | Strong Force TX Portfolio 2018 LLC | 128 | |
| 3 | British Telecommunications PLC | 94 | |
| 4 | International Business Machines Corporation | 94 | |
| 5 | Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd. | 91 | |
| 6 | Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC | 90 | |
| 7 | Salesforce Inc. | 54 | |
| 8 | Oracle International Corporation | 53 | |
| 9 | Strong Force VCN Portfolio 2019 LLC | 51 | |
| 10 | Toyota Motor Corporation | 50 |
| # | Applicant | Patent families | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| 11 | LG Electronics Inc. | 41 | |
| 12 | Telefonaktiebolaget LM Ericsson | 40 | |
| 13 | Huawei Technologies Co., Ltd. | 38 | |
| 14 | Sony Group Corporation | 35 | |
| 15 | GDM Holding LLC | 30 | |
| 16 | TYCO FIRE & SECURITY GMBH | 27 | |
| 17 | Tencent Technology (Shenzhen) Co., Ltd. | 24 | |
| 18 | Alipay (Hangzhou) Information Technology Co., Ltd. | 23 | |
| 19 | Tata Consultancy Services Ltd. | 23 | |
| 20 | Lenovo (Beijing) Ltd. | 23 |
Intel’s lead in AI model computing and digital data processing, combined with its momentum trajectory, suggests it has assembled a broad platform position rather than a narrow point solution — creating IP exposure for new entrants across the most active technical branches.
Filings from approximately the last 18–24 months are under-counted due to patent publication lag; the apparent shape of recent years reflects this systematic delay rather than any real slowdown. Longer-window growth, applicant concentration, and technology-route coverage are therefore more reliable signals than the latest-year bar alone.
Filing volume is rising sharply and AI model computing dominates the technology mix
The annual trend chart shows the multi-year growth trajectory and its acceleration, while the technology composition chart reveals how filing activity is distributed across IPC classes — identifying where the field is densest and where adjacent branches remain comparatively sparse.
Annual filing trend
Filed volume grew from 131 in 2017 to 340 in 2019, eased through 2022, then accelerated markedly through 2024 and into 2025. The 2025 and 2026 bars are materially under-counted due to publication lag and should not be read as a real plateau; the field’s lifecycle is confirmed as Growth with a 43% gain in the recent window.
↗ Hover for values · click a bar to ask EurekaTechnology composition
G06N (computing based on AI models) and G06F (electric digital data processing) are the dominant IPC classes by a wide margin. G06Q (business and commerce data processing) and H04L (digital information transmission) form a secondary tier. Branches such as G05B (control and regulating systems), G06V (image/video recognition), and G16H (healthcare informatics) are present but comparatively sparse, signaling adjacent technical territory with lower filing density.
↗ Hover for values · click a bar to ask EurekaHighly cited patent families surfaced by the query
Citation-heavy patent families returned by the query. Use this section as citation context, not as a curated list of the most topic-specific patents.
Using agentic artificial intelligence to perform a…
Using agentic artificial intelligence (AI) to supplement automated information extraction, tool selection and use, and/or tool generation is disclosed. AI agents can use tools to extract information (e.g., names, dates, invoice numbers, etc.) from a source. Tools can be selected, used, and/or generated by an AI agent to perform various tasks. Such as the… (excerpt from the patent abstract)
| # | Patent | Citations |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | System for monitoring and managing computer resour… | 1,221 |
| 2 | Omnichannel, intelligent, proactive virtual agent | 619 |
| 3 | Mental Model Elicitation Device (MMED) Methods and… | 590 |
| 4 | Method and system for generating a document repres… | 553 |
| 5 | Computer security and management system | 435 |
| 6 | Active adaptation of networked compute devices usi… | 413 |
| 7 | System and method for automatic workload character… | 391 |
| 8 | System and method for application performance mana… | 329 |
Ranked by total forward citations. Citation counts favour older and broadly cited patent families, and broad or adjacent patents may appear when they match the search scope. Treat this section as citation context, not as a curated list of the most topic-specific patents. Some patent titles may be shown in their original, non-English language where an accurate translation could not be guaranteed.
What the competitive structure means for R&D investment decisions
Four structural signals — lifecycle stage, concentration, collaborative activity, and geographic reach — together define the risk and opportunity profile for teams entering or expanding in autonomous AI agents.
Growth stage with accelerating volume and no sign of peak
The field is in a confirmed Growth lifecycle stage: annual filings are still rising and the multi-year window shows a 43% gain. The evidence indicates this upward trajectory has not eased from a prior peak, meaning the competitive window for foundational IP is open but narrowing. Teams that delay portfolio-building risk entering a field where dominant positions are already consolidated.
Growth stageModerate concentration with a dominant leader and a competitive mid-tier
Intel’s 219 patent families place it well clear of the pack, but the top-five share of 27% among the hundred largest filers leaves meaningful room for challengers. The mid-tier — British Telecom, IBM, Samsung, and Microsoft — each hold between 90 and 94 patent families, forming a dense competitive band. Entrants can realistically challenge on narrower technical routes without confronting the full breadth of Intel’s portfolio.
Moderate concentrationToyota Research Institute is the most active co-filer, anchoring an academic network
Toyota Research Institute co-filed with Stanford University (6 joint families), MIT (2 families), and the Toyota Chicago Technology Institute (2 families), making it the field’s most active collaborative node. IBM filed jointly with IBM China and IBM Israel Science & Technology. Samsung Electronics co-filed with its Chinese R&D center. These ties suggest that academic-industry partnerships around robotics and autonomous systems are a live and tested entry path.
Academic-industry linksUS and China dominate; EPO, PCT, and India form a secondary tier
The United States is the lead filing jurisdiction, followed by China. Europe (EPO) and WIPO (PCT) filings represent a third tier, with India appearing at a comparable level — an unusual signal of early-stage protection activity in a fast-growing market. Japan and South Korea are comparatively thin, despite strong applicants from those regions, suggesting some home-market underprotection among Asian filers.
US–China duopolyGo beyond the landscape: Eureka’s TRIZ Solution agent breaks down an R&D problem and returns patented concept solutions, each with a technical approach and cited patent & literature evidence.
| Applicant | Collaborator | Co-filings |
|---|---|---|
| Toyota Research Institute Inc. | Board of Trustees of the Leland Stanford Junior University | 6 |
| Toyota Research Institute Inc. | Massachusetts Institute of Technology | 2 |
| Toyota Research Institute Inc. | Toyota Technological Institute at Chicago | 2 |
| International Business Machines Corporation | IBM China Co., Ltd. | 1 |
| International Business Machines Corporation | IBM ISRAEL SCI & TECH LTD | 1 |
| Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd. | Samsung Electronics China R&D Center | 1 |
Co-filing pairs, ranked by the number of jointly-filed patent families.
Intel and Microsoft anchor the field; British Telecom is an accelerating new entrant
The momentum data reveals a field in transition: some historically large portfolios are decelerating while newer entrants are posting rapid gains. Technology emphasis further distinguishes players by route rather than just volume.
Intel Corporation
Intel leads with 219 patent families, focused primarily on AI model computing (G06N 3), digital data processing (G06F 9), and image data processing (G06T 1). Its momentum is down 10% in the recent period versus the prior three-year window — a deceleration, not a reversal — suggesting the core portfolio is maturing while the competitive landscape around it accelerates.
patent families: 219Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC
Microsoft holds 90 patent families with a momentum signal of new entrant status in the recent window, indicating it has built this position rapidly. Its focus spans AI model computing (G06N 3), digital data processing (G06F 9), and knowledge-based AI (G06N 5), pointing to a broad platform strategy aligned with large language model and agent orchestration infrastructure.
patent families: 90| Applicant | Recent (3 yrs) | Trend |
|---|---|---|
| Intel Corporation | 44 | ▼ -10% |
| Strong Force TX Portfolio 2018 LLC | 16 | ▼ -85% |
| International Business Machines Corporation | 19 | ▼ -46% |
| Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd. | 9 | ▼ -85% |
| British Telecommunications PLC | 3 | ▲ new entrant |
| Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC | 38 | ▲ new entrant |
| Salesforce Inc. | 21 | ▲ new entrant |
| Oracle International Corporation | 12 | ▼ -52% |
Under-served branches adjacent to the dominant AI model computing core
Several IPC classes appear in the corpus at measurably lower filing density relative to the dominant G06N and G06F branches. These observations of relative sparsity, combined with plausible technical relevance to autonomous agents, identify branches where differentiated IP could be built with less crowding.
G05B · Control & Regulating Systems
G05B holds 333 patent records — roughly 3% of the IPC distribution — despite autonomous agents increasingly requiring real-time feedback control for physical-world deployment. The sparse filing density here, relative to the dominant AI model computing class, suggests that the control-theoretic layer of autonomous agent architectures is under-protected. Teams with expertise in industrial automation or robotics control have a plausible entry path by targeting agent-to-actuator interface patents.
Search this in Eureka →G16H · Healthcare Informatics
G16H accounts for 140 patent records — a comparatively thin slice given the active regulatory and clinical interest in AI-driven clinical decision support and patient-facing autonomous agents. The sparsity is notable because healthcare AI is a stated priority for several top filers, yet the dedicated healthcare informatics class remains lightly covered. Entrants with clinical workflow or medical device expertise could file in this branch with lower immediate crowding risk.
Search this in Eureka →How top filers differ by IPC route emphasis
Strength of each leader across the main technology routes.
| Player | G06N 3 · Computing based on AI models | G06N 5 · Computing based on AI models | G06F 9 · Electric digital data processing | G06F 16 · Electric digital data processing | G06N 20 · Computing based on AI models |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Strong Force TX Portfolio 2018 LLC | Strong · 119 | Strong · 76 | Strong · 105 | Strong · 96 | Strong · 109 |
| Intel Corporation | Strong · 141 | Emerging · 19 | Strong · 121 | Absent | Absent |
| International Business Machines Corporation | Strong · 45 | Strong · 53 | Strong · 55 | Moderate · 12 | Moderate · 13 |
| Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd. | Strong · 70 | Absent | Moderate · 22 | Moderate · 15 | Emerging · 14 |
| Strong Force VCN Portfolio 2019 LLC | Strong · 30 | Strong · 21 | Strong · 20 | Moderate · 16 | Strong · 33 |
| Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC | Strong · 43 | Strong · 22 | Strong · 27 | Absent | Absent |
| Oracle International Corporation | Absent | Strong · 38 | Absent | Strong · 29 | Strong · 23 |
Frequently asked questions
The analysis covers 4,918 patent families in scope across all jurisdictions included in the dataset.
Intel Corporation leads with 219 patent families, ahead of Strong Force TX Portfolio 2018 LLC at 128 and British Telecom and IBM each at 94 patent families.
The field is in a confirmed Growth stage. Annual filings have not eased from a prior peak, and the recent multi-year window shows a 43% gain. The most recent years are under-counted due to patent publication lag.
The United States is the lead jurisdiction, followed by China. Europe (EPO), WIPO (PCT), and India form a secondary tier. Japan and South Korea are comparatively thin despite strong applicants from those regions.
Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC, British Telecom, and Salesforce Inc (listed as new entrants in the recent window) are among the fastest-rising filers. Intel’s momentum has eased by 10% versus the prior period, and Strong Force TX Portfolio 2018 LLC is down 85%.
Toyota Research Institute is the most active collaborative node, with 6 joint patent families co-filed with Stanford University, 2 with MIT, and 2 with the Toyota Chicago Technology Institute. IBM and Samsung also have internal cross-entity co-filings across their global subsidiaries.
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Disclaimer. This page is generated from PatSnap Eureka data drawn from a limited snapshot of global patent and scientific-literature records, and is provided for general information and reference only.
Patent data carries inherent limitations: recent filings (typically the most recent 18–24 months) are under-counted due to standard publication lag; counts may be reported at either a patent-family or a patent-record basis and are not always directly comparable; classification, applicant-name, and citation data may contain errors, duplicates, or omissions; and the underlying search query defines and constrains the scope shown. As a result, the analysis may be incomplete or inaccurate and may not reflect the full technology landscape.
Nothing on this page constitutes an exhaustive prior-art, novelty, freedom-to-operate, or validity search, nor does it constitute legal, financial, investment, or professional advice, and it should not be relied upon as such. Any patent, commercial, or strategic decision should be verified independently and reviewed with qualified patent, legal, and domain professionals. PatSnap makes no warranties, express or implied, as to the accuracy, completeness, or fitness for any particular purpose of the information presented.