Patent AI Isn’t Just for IP Lawyers

Lexis announced Protégé, an AI assistant in PatentSight+. Ask it a plain-English question and it returns charts, context, and the exact query it ran so you can reproduce the result. No wrestling with filters, no waiting on a specialist for a first pass. It is slated for commercial preview in October 2025, with general availability expected in November.

For attorneys, that means less setup time and more judgment. For executives, patent data turns into a strategy tool you can use in the room. You can size up competitors, test an R&D bet, or scan for acquisition targets without pausing the conversation to go “pull data.”

Here is The Real Change

Patent analytics used to live in a corner of the firm. Now leadership can see it on demand, with visuals that drive a decision rather than the additional clutter. Once real decisions start relying on those snapshots, swapping the tool out becomes difficult.

You Do Not Have to Be an IP Lawyer to Make This Useful

A corporate partner conducting diligence on a battery storage target can compare that company’s position to two named competitors and view, in one glance, who controls the critical patent families (clusters of filings that protect core inventions). A litigator heading into a licensing dispute involving medical devices can map the counterparty’s portfolio against that of adjacent players and identify leverage points before discovery begins. Use it to frame the issue, then bring in IP when depth is needed.

Keep The Guardrails in Mind

Protégé will not replace specialists, and the output is only as good as the data and the question you ask. The value is speed and clarity at the start. You walk in with something concrete, rather than a promise to circle back.

Additionally, the AI has only been announced and has not been rolled out yet. It could be a complete flop, better than expected, or somewhere in between. Time will tell.

Clients are Already Asking How Their Counsel is Using AI

Walking into a meeting with a clear picture of the relevant patent landscape, and a tool that can show how you got there, signals preparation. The firms that fold this into the workflow will look like steady, forward-thinking advisors. The firms that do not will spend time explaining why they didn't (as always).

Ayven Dodd advises attorneys, law firms, and investors on everything from legal AI to MSOs, ABS models, and M&A. He serves as a Legal AI and M&A Consultant, helping firms modernize without losing their edge. Reach him at ad@sheltonsteele.com