Brazil Lags in Generative AI Patent Activity Amid Global Surge

Brazil's contribution to generative artificial intelligence (AI) patent filings remains minimal at just 0.16% of the global total, revealing a significant innovation gap as global patents soar. Research by Tarso Mesquita Machado of Kasznar Leonardos | Propriedade Intelectual, drawing from the Patsnap platform and World Intellectual Property Organization data, shows that worldwide generative AI patents jumped from approximately 14,000 in 2023 to over 37,800 in 2025. In stark contrast, Brazil has only 421 patent registrations out of 259,785 globally. Notably, Brazil’s patent filings peaked at 31 in 2013 but have since declined, with a mere 10 patents filed in 2025.

Machado identifies several obstacles constraining Brazil's AI patent output: legal restrictions limiting patentability, lengthy processing times at Brazil’s National Institute of Industrial Property (INPI), and insufficient capacity within Brazilian companies and research institutes to develop scalable generative AI innovations. This situation risks relegating Brazil to a consumer role for foreign AI technologies rather than fostering homegrown innovation. Machado stresses the urgency for Brazil to boost its ability to generate and protect technological advancements to secure its competitive position in the global AI landscape.