SINGAPORE – Under Intellectual Property Of Singapore (IPOS)’ Accelerated Initiative for Artificial Intelligence (AI2) (人工智能专利优先计划), the Alibaba Group Holdings Limited (Alibaba Group) has been granted an artificial intelligence (AI) patent in just three months, compared to an average of two to four years. According  to IPOS, the expedited application-to-grant process under AI2 will enable Alibaba Group and other innovators to bring their AI inventions faster to the global market through Singapore, and strengthen the Republic’s position as an intellectual property (IP) hub for cutting-edge technologies in today’s digital economy.

Complimenting Singapore’s efforts in supporting innovative enterprises to accelerate their go-to-market strategy, Mr Benjamin Bai, Vice President and Chief IP Counsel of Ant Financial (an affiliate of the Alibaba Group), said, “Companies looking to implement AI solutions globally have grown exponentially. Against this backdrop, the speed at which a patent can be granted is critical. Singapore plays a pivotal role as it facilitates our entry into markets of our interest rapidly. We applaud the efficiency and speed of the Singapore’s IP office, and look forward to filing more patent applications in Singapore under this initiative.”

Advancement in AI technology as a result of digital innovation has driven the exponential growth of AI patent filings globally. Between 2008 to 2017, over 180,000 AI inventions were published globally. With AI progressing at breakneck speed and disrupting almost every industry, IPOS’ AI2 will enable innovators to quickly commercialize their AI technologies and drive enterprise growth.