Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal Launches AI-Powered Trademark Search Module, IP Chatbot

Union Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal has launched an AI and machine learning (ML)-powered trademark search module and a chatbot. 

While unveiling the search module, the Minister noted that the new tech stack will enable faster clearance of trademark applications in a more efficient and accurate manner. 

In a statement, the Commerce Ministry said that the new search technology will offer advanced AI and ML algorithms for precise trademark identification, streamlined search processes for domestic and international businesses and enhanced protection capabilities for trademarks. 

As per the Ministry, the move will leverage the emerging technologies to expedite trademark registration processes, improve the overall user experience for intellectual property (IP) stakeholders and foster international collaboration in IP system development. 

Besides, Goyal also unveiled IP Saarthi Chatbot, which offers a digital assistant to guide users on how to navigate the Indian IP registration process.

Speaking at the event, the Minister said that the integration of AI and ML will enable authorities to improve the “quality of disposals” of patent applications and enhance the speed of design approvals. He also said that more “official languages” will be embedded in the updated versions of the search module going forward. 

He also added that government-operated AI tools should be interoperable and compatible with devices across all user interfaces for faster adoption among masses. The Minister also reportedly said that AI is something that the general public need to accept and adopt to improve work outcomes. 

“AI is something we all have to accept. We need to become students again. This is an existential tool. The faster we adopt it to improve the outcome of our work, the better we will do,” Goyal said as per Moneycontrol. 

With this, India has become one of the few countries, after the US, the EU and Norway, to have such an AI-powered trademark search module. 

The latest launch comes at a time when the Centre has aggressively tapped into AI to streamline access to government services and digital public goods. For instance, BHASHINI, launched in 2022, is an AI-powered language translation portal to help startups build products on top of it. 

Minister of State (MoS) for Electronics and Information Technology Jitin Prasada earlier this year informed the Parliament that the Centre has constituted an advisory group to formulate a framework to regulate AI. 

Additionally, the Centre has also earmarked an outlay of INR 10,372 Cr under the India AI Mission to fuel India’s AI ecosystem. In August, the Centre sought bids for the empanelment of entities to offer AI services on cloud under the mission.