How to Draft Patents With AI: Insights from My Seminar

On January 22, 2025, I had the pleasure of hosting my seminar How to Draft Patents With AI. What an incredible session it was! We brought together patent professionals from across Europe, including folks from Germany, Great Britain, Belgium, and beyond. My goal? To show how AI can transform the way we draft patents while tackling the all-important topics of confidentiality and security.

Let me walk you through what we covered and some of the fantastic feedback from the participants.

The Seminar Format

This seminar wasn’t your typical theoretical lecture. Instead, I wanted to make it as hands-on as possible. Using the Bitcoin whitepaper as a hypothetical invention disclosure as a running example, we explored the entire patent drafting workflow:

  1. Understanding the invention
  2. Creating the claims
  3. Drafting the description

Over three hours, we dug into practical examples, explored cutting-edge tools, and had plenty of lively discussions. To make it interactive, we included polls, live demonstrations, and opportunities for participants to ask questions and share thoughts.

Key Learnings from the Seminar

1. AI Literacy for Patent Professionals

We kicked off by demystifying Large Language Models (LLMs) like ChatGPT, Gemini, and GPT4All. These models are powerful but have limitations—such as generating convincing but false information (hallucinations). Understanding how they work is crucial for using them effectively in patent drafting.

We also looked at the pros and cons of cloud-based vs. local AI tools. While cloud-based tools are generally more powerful, local solutions like GPT4All give you full control over your data—a big win for confidentiality.

Participant feedback:

  • “I got a good overview of what a workflow with AI tools can look like.”
  • “The session provided very good and clear insights into drafting patents using AI tools.”

2. Prompting Techniques

Prompt engineering was a highlight for many participants. I introduced the six elements of a good prompt:

  1. Role: Define who the AI should be (e.g., “You are a patent attorney”).
  2. Task: Be specific about what you want (e.g., “Draft a broad claim”).
  3. Context: Provide relevant background information.
  4. Format: Structure the desired output.
  5. Tone: Specify the writing style if needed.
  6. Examples: Use examples to guide the AI.

Through live demos, I showed how crafting detailed prompts can dramatically improve the quality of AI-generated content. Participants loved seeing the difference between vague and well-structured prompts.

Participant feedback:

  • “The detailed prompt rules and suggestions were very helpful.”
  • “Learning about different prompt types and their use was a highlight.”

3. Practical AI Tool Demonstrations

We explored a range of general-purpose and patent-specific AI tools, including:

  • NotebookLM for document summarization—great for quickly understanding invention disclosures.
  • GPT4All for secure, offline AI interactions.
  • Rowan Patents for drafting in an integrated environment.

I walked participants through how each tool fits into the drafting workflow and shared tips on picking the right tool for specific tasks. Seeing these tools in action was a game-changer for many attendees.

Participant feedback:

  • “The set of tools and the ease of use when dealing with them was a highlight.”
  • “I found the list of tools, like NotebookLM or Perplexity, very useful.”
  • “I liked seeing how offline tools perform compared to online tools.”

4. Step-by-Step Patent Drafting Workflow

One of the most appreciated parts of the seminar was the step-by-step approach to drafting a patent application using AI tools. From understanding the invention to drafting claims and detailed descriptions, we tackled each phase methodically. I emphasized tailoring the AI’s role and prompts to suit the task at hand.

Participant feedback:

  • “The step-by-step approach to drafting a patent application was incredibly helpful.”
  • “The combined use of different tools and how to interact with them was a highlight.”

Addressing A Key Concern: Confidentiality

Confidentiality came up frequently in the discussions. I shared practical advice, including:

  • When to use local tools (e.g., GPT4All for sensitive data).
  • Understanding privacy settings in cloud-based tools (e.g., ChatGPT Enterprise).
  • How to avoid creating accidental prior art by managing data inputs carefully.

You can learn more in this video recap of the seminar:

Participant Highlights and Feedback

The feedback from participants was incredibly motivating. Here are just a few of the highlights:

  • “I got a good overview of what a workflow with AI tools can look like.”
  • “The combined use of different tools and how to interact with them was a highlight.”
  • “The detailed prompt rules and suggestions were very helpful.”
  • “The list of tools like NotebookLM or Perplexity provided very useful insights.”

Hearing these takeaways reinforced for me the value of focusing on practical, hands-on learning.

Join Me for the Next Seminar

This seminar was a fantastic opportunity to share what I’ve learned about using AI in patent drafting. If you’re curious about how AI can boost your efficiency, enhance your patent drafts, and maintain confidentiality, I’d love for you to join me at the next session.

👉 Reserve your spot here: https://powerclaim.io/seminar/

All the best,
Bastian