Japan left behind by US and China in AI era patent race

TechnologyProportion shrinks to 8% from 25% over 20 yearsJapan ranked fourth in patents in core fields, such as AI mechanisms and foundational technologies. China, the U.S. and South Korea occupy the top three spots. (Image by Nikkei)KOSEI TAKAHASHIAugust 21, 2026 03:14 JSTTOKYO -- Japan's share of global patents has shrunk from 25% to 8% over the past two decades due to the dominance of the U.S. and China in artificial intelligence breakthroughs and other areas.