Recently, it has become common practice to outsource patent applications to outside patent firms.

In such a situation, I have never outsourced a patent application

Because 'the cost of explaining my invention to others does not pay off.'

No, maybe it will pay off.

Be sure to describe it accurately.

'It's because explaining my invention to others is too much trouble.'

For example, even when outsourcing, conditions such as "only drawings of the application" are prepared, but "if the drawings are prepared, the patent application is as good as complete" -- at least, that's what I think.

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It occurred to me,

"What would happen if I explained my invention to ChatGPT instead of explaining it to others?"

So I did a little experiment.

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Ebata: "Write a patent application for 'an invention for tracking a suspect using multiple fixed cameras'" (*)

(*) Incidentally, there is already a mountain of publicly known examples and products for this invention, so a patent cannot be granted.

ChatGPT's answer (English translation is omitted):.

I was impressed, saying, 'Hmmm, I didn't know it could go this far.'

Of course, there was no search of publicly known examples, and even that is not in the format of a patent application (e.g., no claims), and the content is too shabby, to begin with.

However, if my leader shouts

"Ebata! I don't care if it's a "deemed withdrawal" that doesn't request a review, write one. I have a quota! My quota! "

It would be useful for "patent application writing as a quota, with no intention of getting a patent" to help the leader who cries, "I'm not going to get a patent.

Incidentally, the company policy I work for is "Writing patent applications is the soul of engineers." If any leader were to make such a statement, they would be purged instantly (true).

Hmm? So we are outsourcing our "soul" now? Let's not talk about this for the sake of my peaceful life as an engineer.

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Anyway, I felt a relief to know that, at least 'for the time being, there seems to be no danger of inventive work being lost to generative AI.

It is none of my business what happens to others' invention-creation and making patent applications after I retire.