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We’ve learned a lot writing about the IP landscape of Big Tech the past few years. In tearing through thousands of patent applications, a few common themes have stuck out.

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Patent Drop is going through changes: We’re excited to announce the relaunch of Patent Drop as CIO Upside—a newsletter built to empower IT leaders to drive the next wave of innovation. But before we go, we’re taking a look at Patent Drop’s greatest hits.

Microsoft wants to strengthen safeguards built to make sure sensitive data stays in the right hands. The company’s cybersecurity unit makes up a substantial chunk of its business and could boost its AI bet, one expert said.

Google wants to more efficiently cool down its data centers as the AI race heats up — literally and figuratively. The tech would also support its ambitious goal of massively reducing carbon emissions.

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A patent on a system that would let Amazon’s voice assistants offer more personalized service turns a spotlight on the race – and roadblocks – to creation of an AI-powered Alexa.

Ford may want to authenticate your face when you get behind the wheel. Its recent patent request highlights the choice consumers face between convenience and privacy as vehicles become increasingly connected.

Salesforce is bringing an artistic flair to the enterprise with its patent application for a tuneable image model. The tech could make graphics generation more intuitive as the company continues its push towards AI agents.

A patent for AI chip architecture from Meta could make model development more robust as the company builds AI tools for businesses. The company has spent a whole lot of money assembling foundational models, and may be turning to enterprise to cash in.

Snap’s latest patent boosts its ad platform with machine learning. The company’s ad overhaul has largely worked in its favor based on its recent earnings report. However, the social media firm still faces stiff competition from Meta and TikTok.

Google is adding to its smart glasses push with its recent patent filing. Despite its initial fumble with Google Glass, there are a few reasons it may be able to avoid another “glassholes” situation, one expert said.

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Nvidia’s patent for robotically-operated server farms signals that the company wants to be a thought leader in the data center space – and maybe automate humans out of it entirely.

RT @jordangutt: Great article. The major players keep patenting blockchain tech regardless of the price of crypto! . Thanks for the inter….

Adobe wants to stop AI models from losing their trains of thought. It makes sense why Adobe would want to target hallucination, especially in enterprise contexts as this patent suggests.

JPMorgan Chase wants to use blockchain for fact checking. Though blockchain’s reputation had long been associated with cryptocurrencies’ volatility for a long time, core blockchain technologies themselves have seen a gradual rise.

Can Bing ever overtake Google? Though Google has remained dominant in search for decades, a Microsoft patent for more personalized search using IoT data highlights that consumer tech is moving from “reactive to anticipatory,” one expert said.

Disney wants to time ad breaks better. The company’s recent patent signals that AI is coming both for the world of advertising and entertainment at large.

Ford wants to save you money at the plug. Charging infrastructure remains a barrier in EV adoption, one expert said. Without more of it, the industry may face a “risk of frustrations and a lack of faith” from consumers.