AI Output ‘Needs To Be Protected’ In R & D

Research and development (R&D) activities in the life sciences sector increasingly involve artificial intelligence (AI).

Med Tech News recently reported that a team from the University of Surrey, led by Professor Ryan Abbott, has successfully filed the first ever patent applications for inventions that have no human inventor, because they were autonomously created by AI.

Professor Abbott told the news provider that patents are particularly important in the life sciences sector, and especially so in the area of drug discovery. He also pointed out that AI has become increasingly important in R&D, carrying out a range of tasks, some of which “can be the foundation for patent filings”.

And professor Abbott believes that AI’s use in R&D is only set to grow as it becomes more sophisticated.

“It is an exciting prospect that AI may be able to improve the efficiency of some historically very inefficient practices. Pharma and tech companies are likely to develop AI to automate more and more of the drug discovery process,” he asserted.

However, he noted that as more and more patents are filed for discoveries or inventions with AI involvement, the legal rules surrounding what could be protected may change. Professor Abbott stressed the importance of protecting what AI produces.

“It is important to protect the output of AI to encourage investment in inventive AI, which I think will lead to all sorts of exciting developments,” he said.

Although the EU has said that a human has to be at the heart of an invention, UK law is slightly different in that it stipulates the owner of the AI that creates computer-generated works can apply for copyright protection.

Professor Abbott warned that if this protection of intellectual property is lost because something is created by an AI rather than a person, it could mean there aren’t enough incentives to develop future products in this way.

The latest global life sciences outlook produced by Deloitte highlighted AI as one of several “transformative technologies” in life sciences. According to the organisation, AI used in this sector “has the potential to revolutionise diagnoses, treatment planning, patient monitoring and drug discovery”.

Other technologies named under the same banner include the Internet of Medical Things (IoMT), Software as a Medical Device (SaMD), blockchain and DIY diagnostics and virtual care.

Deloitte noted that these disruptive technologies have great potential, but have yet to be introduced on any meaningful scale because many companies are still at the “experimental stage”.

“To realise their full potential and keep pace with technology’s rapid evolution, regulation of these technologies needs to become more agile,” the report stated.

As professor Abbott and his team have shown, AI can certainly be used to make meaningful discoveries and develop viable products, which means regulation and legal systems will need to work hard to catch up to developments in this area.

With the life sciences sector the focus of a sector deal under the UK’s Industrial Strategy, it may be that the country looks at how it can take the lead in this area.

If you need assistance with life science telemarketing, get in touch with us today to find out how we can help.