The Supreme Court of the United Kingdom has upheld previous rulings, affirming that artificial intelligence (AI) cannot be designated as an inventor in a patent application. This decision, reported by the BBC, stems from technologist Dr. Stephen Thaler's attempt to have his AI, named Dabus, recognized as the inventor of a food container and a flashing beacon. The Intellectual Property Office (IPO) rejected the request in 2019, asserting that only humans can be recognized as inventors. This decision was subsequently upheld by the High Court and the Court of Appeal.
The recent ruling by five Supreme Court justices denies a request to overturn the previous decisions, emphasizing that "the inventor must be a human being." This verdict underscores the stance that AI entities cannot be granted inventor status to safeguard patent rights.
It's important to note that the decision does not address the question of whether Dabus actually invented the food container and the light.
Dr. Thaler, who contends that Dabus is a "conscious and sentient form of machine intelligence," expressed disappointment with the decision, highlighting the ongoing tension between human and machine intelligence. The ruling sets a precedent in the UK, emphasizing the unique role of human inventors in the patenting process.
