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If you’ve ever had to sift through a patent database, you’ll understand that it’s not the most straightforward process, especially if you’re unfamiliar with the intricacies of keyword searching or lack serious patience.
Now, AI search firm Trouble is developing a new search engine specifically for patents, trouble patents. Instead of building complicated searches for specific keywords, users can use the kind of natural language they might use in everyday life or when talking to a user-centric chatbot. For example, Worry says that users can easily ask questions like “Are there any patents on AI for language learning?” Or “Key quantum computing patents from 2024?”
Trouble says it will then return collections of relevant patents, providing online viewers and direct links to the original documents. Users will then be able to ask follow-up questions in a conversational fashion to refine or expand their search results. The tool will also suggest new potential topics that may be useful for their search process.
The problems are highlighted in how the tool can solve some of the issues involved in traditional keyword searches. For example, if you search for “fitness tracker,” patents of concern will also give you results for “activity bands,” “step counting watches,” and “health monitoring wearables,” even if they don’t match the exact keywords.
Starting today, Patents of Anxiety is currently available in beta worldwide. While in beta, Troublesome Patents will be free for all users, Pro and Max subscribers will get additional usage quotas and model configuration options.
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The tool’s scope goes beyond patent databases, as Worry says the new tool will also help users search academic papers, public software repositories and other sources where new ideas first appear, giving you data on what looks like a vast landscape of the subject even if projects haven’t reached the patent stage.
If you’re interested in trying out some problem products, and patents aren’t something you’re interested in right now, the company’s flagship AI search engine, Comet, went free for the first time earlier this month. It’s available on most major platforms like Windows, iOS, and Android, though unless you’re a die-hard pro or willing to stump up a max account, you’ll be limited in the number of searches you can do.
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I am a reporter covering the weekend news. Before joining PCMag in 2024, I held positions at BBC News, The Guardian, Times of London, Daily Beast, Vice, Slate, Fast Company, Evening Standard, I, Techradar, and Decrypt Media.
I’ve been a PC gamer since you had to manually install games from multiple CD-ROMs. As a reporter, I’m passionate about the intersection of tech and human life. I’ve covered everything from crypto scandals to the art world, as well as conspiracy theories, UK politics, and Russia and foreign affairs.
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