DeepIP’s CEO was invited by IPWatchdog for a fireside chat to explore How AI is Reshaping IP Practice and Business Models. The discussion featured:

• Barry Schindler – Co-chair of Greenberg Traurig’s Global Patents and Innovation Strategies Group. Barry has over 30 years of legal experience in patent prosecution and IP protection, spanning artificial intelligence, machine learning, agritech, fintech, cloud computing, pharmaceuticals, material science, and medical devices. He holds a BS in Chemical Engineering from Cornell University and a JD from the University of Houston Law Center.
• FX Leduc – An accomplished entrepreneur with over a decade of experience founding and leading innovative tech companies. He currently leads DeepIP, an AI Patent Assistant based in New York City, focused on revolutionizing IP practices. He collaborates globally with patent practitioners from law firms and major corporations to integrate AI into their daily workflows.
• Gene Quinn – A patent attorney and leading commentator on patent law and innovation policy. He founded IP Watchdog in 1999 and has twice been named one of the top 50 most influential people in IP. He is regarded as an expert on software patentability and U.S. patent procedure.

‍

Fireside Chat Transcript

‍

Gene Quinn:

Okay. And this is the panelists, and this is where we start the story here. FX, you want to tell us what you want to talk about specifically today?

‍

FX Leduc:

Yeah, but I can tell you a word about DeepIP very rapidly. So basically, we are an AI startup with seven years of experience in data for machine learning and two years in the IP field with an office in France. As you can hear, I'm French.

I'm based in New York for three years now, and we have another office in DC.

The ambition today is to have a fruitful discussion with Gene, with Barry. Thank you so much for welcoming us today and for joining in on this discussion about the transformation of business models and the impact of AI on the future of IP prosecution.

I think this will be a super exciting discussion.

‍

Gene Quinn:

Yeah, great. Thanks. Barry, any thoughts, generally speaking, about where we're starting with the conversation today, generally about AI, generally about using tools in practice?

‍

Barry Schindler:

Yes. So thank you, Gene. First of all, my kudos goes to Gene Quinn. As someone who's read IP Watchdog forever, I don't think Gene gets enough credit for what he's done and for how much he’s helped practitioners.

As somebody who really, as I said, practices the art, Gene, it's just kudos, and it's a pleasure to be on this panel.

I want to start off with my time capsule.

‍

Gene Quinn:

Well, thanks, Barry.

‍

Barry Schindler:

Going down memory lane, and for some of you, you're going to remember this. I have a registration number of 32,000, so I'm kind of low. Much lower than some. I used to know people who were in the 5000s when I started practicing, and I still know somebody with a 4,000 number.

So, you know, I've been doing this a while.

And the time capsule I like to refer to is when I first started, and this is why generative AI is such a leap.

When I first started, we all remember the tri-folders—or some of us remember the tri-folders. It was three folders. You’d open up the case, and the debate was: do you put the correspondence from the client on the left side or the right side, and then the drawings on the right side or left side?

That was what we used to fight over—where do you put your tri-fold? And literally, docketing would come in every morning, plop four cases on your desk, and you wouldn't leave until the four cases were done.

That was my life. That was the life of a patent prosecutor at the beginning.

It’s amazing what we're going to talk about today and how far we've come.

The second thing you're going to hear a lot about today is the art of claim drafting.

The wonderful thing I love about being a patent prosecutor is the ability to draft claims. I actually teach at Stanford a course called The Art of Claim Drafting, and literally, you could put an easel down and break it down step by step.

For anyone who knows me, what will happen is if you write this beautiful claim, I literally can step back and say, Wow, that's art.

The reason I’m bringing this up is that I think generative AI will be a tool, but it will not at all change how we draft claims.

Will it help us draft claims? Yes.

But it's really going to begin at the art of claim drafting, and that’s what I want everyone to focus on—how we can spend more time on claim drafting.

The third term you're going to hear a lot today is the arms race.

And the arms race means this: generative AI is something you're going to have to use, whether you like it or not.

And why? Because—you're going to hear this a lot today—your competitors are using generative AI.

And it’s not just competitors. It’s the VCs looking to invest in your company. It’s the FTOs of your competitors.

Everybody’s going to be using, if not already using, some type of generative AI to test your claims, your application, or your granted patent, to determine what is wrong.

And that's why you must use this tool—because everyone is elevating their game.

That’s why I've been a huge advocate of generative AI.

‍

Gene Quinn:

Well, thanks, Barry.

‍

Barry Schindler:

Where do I come from, background-wise? A couple of things I do—I sit on the New Jersey Supreme Court Committee on Generative AI. We advise the New Jersey courts on how to use generative AI.

I've been one of the leaders in my firm regarding generative AI, and so that's why I was thrilled to do this webinar with FX and with DeepIP.

Again—disclaimer—my firm is not endorsing DeepIP.

Do I use DeepIP? Yes.

But I must make it clear that I am, again, Barry using it.

I can't have my firm say that Greenberg Traurig endorses DeepIP, but it's a wonderful tool.

‍

FX Leduc:

Yeah, so thank you, Gene.

Before jumping into what we do at DeepIP, if we take a moment to reflect on what has happened over the past three years, what’s really impressive is the speed of the transformation.

I think we have very, very rarely seen such a transformation at this scale.

And for me, looking specifically at patent practices—2023 was a year of skepticism.

Everyone was saying, Okay, that's interesting. That’s an interesting technology. But let’s see what it really does.

2024 was the year we started seeing large firms adopt AI as early adopters, discovering the technology at a certain scale.

And what we’re seeing now is almost a rush to get equipped.

Because I think everyone now understands—generative AI is here to stay.

It will deeply transform the way everything works, especially the day-to-day life of a patent practitioner.

So this acceleration is crazy, and that’s why I think it’s very, very interesting to have this discussion around the impact and transformation of the business model for law firms.

At DeepIP, we build what we call a trusted assistant to support attorneys across their workflow.

We initially started with a product really focused on patent drafting assistance—supporting preparation, drafting, iteration, and review.

Then, three months ago, we released a new module dedicated to office actions—one module dedicated to accelerating the analysis and another providing support in finding creative angles to address objections and draft responses.

And to share a bit about the reach we had in 2024—

• 8,500 patent applications were drafted with DeepIP.
• Attorneys had over 60,000 interactions with our AI.

And if we look at the first two and a half months of 2025, we are already at 50% of what we did in all of 2024.

And the benefits our clients share are basically the following:

1. Enjoy drafting again – They save time, which they usually reinvest, at least partially, into delivering a much better-quality final product.
2. Higher quality patent applications – Because they have more time to dedicate to the claims and the most complex parts of the actual drafting process.
3. Increased efficiency – AI acts as an exoskeleton, helping them do more in the same amount of time. Attorneys can work up to two hours more per day on actual drafting.
4. Lower stress and better workload management – AI helps firms handle peak workloads, which ultimately impacts talent retention—something that is critical for firms.

‍

{{block-cta}}

‍

Gene Quinn:

So Barry, let me bring you in here. FX was talking about how practitioners who are using this are loving drafting again. And when I first saw that, I thought, Okay, maybe that’s just a catchy slogan.

But then I really thought about it, and it seems like this tool takes away a lot of the grunt work involved in getting an application going, which—let’s be honest—nobody really likes.

‍

Barry Schindler:

Gene, you hit the nail on the head—literally.That’s one of the first topics we have on our bullet points: what does AI mean for the billable hour, profitability, and the evolving role of patent practitioners?

Gene, you said it perfectly—one of the reasons why I’ve been a huge advocate of generative AI is that it allows us to focus on what really matters: claim drafting.

I constantly tell new clients: Does your previous firm send you a specification first, or do they send you the claims first?

If the answer is specification first, I tell them: Fire that firm.

Because, for those of us who really love this craft, it’s all about understanding the invention and writing a claim that truly covers the invention.

And once you have that claim, the grunt work begins: making sure you’ve covered all variations, ensuring species are well-defined, and structuring the document so that it supports strong claims.

And that’s exactly what DeepIP and generative AI can help with.

Once you have your claims, AI can assist in expanding the specification, checking for consistency, and covering variations—but always with human oversight.

This is a power tool, not a replacement.

And Gene, this is where I say something a little uncomfortable…

‍

Gene Quinn:

Go ahead, Barry—let’s hear it.

‍

Barry Schindler:

The uncomfortable thing is that a lot of patent prosecution is done on a fixed fee.

And what happens many times is that, to meet a fixed fee, firms push work down to lower-fee associates.

Which makes sense—but sometimes that means the quality suffers.

What this tool allows is for both senior attorneys to spend more time on claims and junior associates to produce higher-quality drafts.

And here’s where it gets even more important—this is an arms race.

And by that, I mean if you’re not using generative AI for patent drafting, you are falling behind.

Your competitors are using it. Your clients are using it. The USPTO is using it for prior art searching.

This means that examiners are already ahead of the curve.

And if you’re drafting patents without AI assistance, you’re submitting applications that will be examined against AI-assisted searches.

So, if you don’t elevate your game, you will be left behind.

And this isn’t just theory—I’ve seen venture capitalists and FTOs using AI tools to evaluate your patents before they even invest.

They are already putting your patents through generative AI to see where they are weak.

And if you’re not using AI to strengthen your own patents, they’re going to find the weaknesses before you do.

‍

Gene Quinn:

That’s a long answer to a short question, but it’s an important one.

FX, do you want to comment on anything Barry just said?

‍

FX Leduc:

I could not agree more, actually.

We’re seeing large firms getting equipped with AI tools now.

And the firms that are not doing so risk falling behind.

And if we compare the efficiency of firms that use AI vs. those that don’t—it’s becoming clear that this is no longer optional.

It’s a prerequisite to compete.

And regarding patent offices, I couldn’t agree more with Barry—USPTO and other offices are already developing their own AI tools.

So in the near future, we’re going to see firms using AI to draft stronger patents, while patent offices use AI to challenge those patents.

This means that AI is not just an efficiency tool—it’s a competitive advantage.

‍

Gene Quinn:

Lisa just asked a great question in the chat: What about privilege and confidentiality?

And to go even further—is there leakage? Is DeepIP using my application to train its AI?

Barry, when your firm evaluated AI tools, were those concerns addressed?

‍

Barry Schindler:

Yes, those were exactly the questions we asked.

There are a number of AI products on the market that do use client data for training.

And there are AI tools with leakage issues, meaning confidential data might not be as protected as it should be.

But DeepIP does not use your data for training.

FX, can you expand on this?

‍

FX Leduc:

Yes, absolutely.

This is the first issue we discuss with every client.

In terms of security, we have two major certifications:

1. ISO 27001
2. SOC 2 Type 2

And in terms of design, we built DeepIP with confidentiality at its core.

Here’s what that means:

• Stateless API – We do not retain any data.
• No data reuse – We do not use your data for training.
• Encryption – All data is encrypted at rest and in transit.
• Multiple levels of data segregation – Both logical and physical separation.
• Private cloud infrastructure – Our entire system runs within Azure Private Instance.
• Exclusive monitoring exemption – Microsoft has given us a unique exemption, guaranteeing that no one—not even Microsoft—can look at client data.

Additionally, for large firms like Greenberg Traurig, we can deploy DeepIP in a private cloud bucket, so the firm has full control over its own data.

This means zero risk of data leakage outside your organization.

‍

{{block-cta}}

‍

Final Thoughts and Closing Remarks

Barry Schindler:

Yes, Gene, exactly. One of the biggest challenges in patent prosecution is that the USPTO is getting more sophisticated with its rejections.

Examiners are using AI-driven search tools to find better prior art, which means that if you’re responding to an Office Action without using AI, you are already at a disadvantage.

What this tool does is level the playing field—or even give you the advantage—because you can analyze the rejection, compare it to prior art, and generate stronger, more targeted responses in less time.

And this is why I keep saying: This is an arms race.

If you’re not using generative AI, you are already falling behind because your competitors and examiners are using it.

And that’s why I’m such a huge advocate for these types of tools.

‍

Gene Quinn:

I completely agree, Barry.

Before we wrap up, we’re going to do one last poll question for the audience:

"Would you be interested in a free consultation with DeepIP?"

While that runs, FX, Barry—final thoughts.

FX, if people only remember one thing from today’s session, what do you want that to be?

‍

FX Leduc:

That’s an easy one—there is no risk of replacement with AI, but there is an urgency to adopt these tools.

Why?

Because AI is not here to replace attorneys—it’s here to augment them.

It allows you to:

• Enjoy your work more
• Produce higher-quality patent applications
• Speed up prosecution
• Make stronger arguments

And ultimately, firms that embrace AI now will be the ones that set the new standard in patent prosecution.

‍

Gene Quinn:

That’s a great takeaway.

Barry, same question—what is the one key thing you want everyone to remember?

‍

Barry Schindler:

One word: Arms Race.

If you’re not actively adopting AI tools in your practice right now, you are already behind.

Every major firm I talk to is either actively using AI or in the process of adopting it.

Every major corporate IP department is evaluating AI tools.

Even the patent offices are using AI to improve examination.

So the question is no longer: Should I use AI?

The question is: How quickly can I start using AI to stay competitive?

That’s my message—this is happening now, and if you don’t get on board, you’re going to be left behind.

‍

Gene Quinn:

Well said.

And my final thought is just to echo what Barry said—this is the great AI arms race in patent law.

If you’re not using AI tools right now, you are already behind the learning curve.

Every time I see these AI demos, the tools do more, and more, and more.

And FX already teased what’s coming next—AI that will:

• Analyze your entire draft for 101, 102, and 103 risks
• Act as an AI reviewer before filing
• Generate better prosecution strategies

It’s an exciting time, and I strongly encourage everyone to test these tools, try them for free, and see what they can do for you.

Because at the end of the day, the proof is in the results.

And I think once you see the benefits, you won’t want to go back to drafting the old way.

‍

Summary of the Webinar: AI’s Impact on Patent Practice

This webinar, hosted by Gene Quinn (IP Watchdog), featured Barry Schindler (Greenberg Traurig) and FX Leduc (DeepIP) discussing how AI is reshaping patent practice and why firms must adopt AI tools to stay competitive.

Key Takeaways:

1. AI is Not Replacing Patent Attorneys—It’s Augmenting Them
   • AI helps attorneys draft faster, improve quality, and focus on strategic work.
   • AI removes grunt work and allows more time for claims and complex drafting.
2. The “AI Arms Race” in Patent Law Has Begun
   • Patent offices (USPTO) are already using AI for prior art searches.
   • Competitors are using AI to test claim strength and analyze patents.
   • If you don’t use AI, you risk being outpaced by firms that do.
3. AI Improves Patent Quality & Compact Prosecution
   • AI assists with drafting, generates better specifications, and suggests claim refinements.
   • AI helps analyze Office Actions, identify 101, 102, 103 risks, and generate stronger responses.
   • Using AI can reduce RCEs and speed up patent grants.
4. DeepIP’s AI-Powered Patent Assistant in Action
   • AI-assisted invention disclosures: Helps prepare inventor questions and identify continuation opportunities.
   • AI-assisted drafting: Generates structured sections step by step, ensuring well-defined claims and specifications.
   • AI for Office Actions: Analyzes examiner rejections and suggests response strategies.
5. Security & Confidentiality Are Priorities
   • DeepIP is ISO 27001 and SOC 2 Type 2 certified.
   • No data is stored, used for training, or leaked.
   • Firms can use private cloud storage for additional security.

Final Message from Speakers:

• FX Leduc: AI is not replacing attorneys—it’s helping them work better and faster.
• Barry Schindler: This is an arms race—if you don’t use AI now, you’re already behind.
• Gene Quinn: The future of patent law is AI-driven, and firms that embrace it will lead the industry.

‍

Conclusion: AI is here to stay and is already transforming patent prosecution. Firms that adopt AI now will gain a competitive edge, while those that hesitate risk being left behind.

Want to stay competitive? Start using AI now. 🚀

‍

{{block-cta}}

‍