On April 11, 2024, the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) published guidance to the Federal Register on the use of AI tools in matters before the USPTO.  The guidance acknowledges that AI may be beneficial to practitioners in preparing and prosecuting patent and trademark applications but notes there are risks associated with the use of AI and cautions that practitioners must be careful to adhere to the USPTO’s existing rules and policies when using AI assistance.  The guidance outlines how the existing rules and policies apply to the use of AI tools and includes examples of acceptable and unacceptable use for both patent and trademark practitioners. Learn more about AI and the USPTO on the USPTO’s Artificial Intelligence webpage.