The U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) is launching a pilot program called the Automated Search Pilot Program to speed up patent application reviews by leveraging AI. In a recent post to the Federal Register, the patent office said it is seeking applicants willing to volunteer their patent applications.

“With this pilot program, the USPTO aims to ascertain the impact of sharing a pre-examination search report on prosecution by applicants, evaluate the scalability of generating an Automated Search Results Notice (ASRNs), and collect data to inform next steps,” it said.

This notice will give applicants early insight into possible prior work related to their submission, allowing them to make informed decisions — such as filing amendments or deferring examination — before the substantive review begins.

USPTO also mentions that the AI-powered automated search will use an application’s CPC classification, specification, claims, and abstract to identify relevant documents from U.S. and foreign patent databases. Trained on public patent data, the AI tool will rank results while ensuring confidentiality and data security.

The current plan is to accept 1,600 patent applications. “The Automated Search Pilot Program will accept petitions to participate in the program beginning October 20, 2025, until either April 20, 2026,” it added.