Harrity Patent Analytics Releases the 2026 AI Patent 100 List
The leading organizations driving artificial-intelligence innovation, ranked by 2025 U.S. utility patents granted.
WASHINGTON (May 20, 2026) — Harrity Patent Analytics is proud to announce the release of the 2026 AI Patent 100 List. The AI Patent 100 List is an annual ranking of the 100 organizations awarded the most U.S. utility patents related to artificial intelligence in the prior calendar year. It is curated by Harrity Patent Analytics using data from the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office.
Key Findings
A look beneath the rankings — where AI patenting is concentrating in 2025, and which industries are racing fastest.
- 16,832 — Total AI patents granted to the top 100
- 38% — Held by just the top 10 organizations
- 15+ — Countries represented across the list
- 12 — Automakers in the top 100, led by Toyota at #6
Finance is in the AI race
Capital One ranks #7 — the highest non-Big-Tech, non-auto company on the list. More than ten banks and insurers crack the top 100 (including Bank of America, State Farm, JPMorgan, Wells Fargo, Citigroup, USAA, and Allstate), reflecting heavy AI investment in fraud detection, underwriting, and customer experience.
AI is reshaping the auto industry
Twelve automakers appear in the top 100 — Toyota (#6), General Motors, Hyundai, Ford, Honda, Porsche, BMW, Subaru, Volvo, and Magna among them — alongside AV-focused startups Aurora Innovation, Motional, and Skydio. AI sits at the center of autonomous driving, ADAS, and connected-vehicle innovation.
A truly global field
U.S.-headquartered organizations make up just over half the list. Japan (16 firms), China (8), Germany (6), and South Korea (4) are the largest international contributors, with Samsung — a Korean company — holding the #1 spot above every American firm.
Top 10 Organizations from the 2026 AI Patent 100 List
- Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd. — 1,082 AI patents
- Alphabet Inc. — 1,057 AI patents
- International Business Machines Corp. — 840 AI patents
- Amazon.com, Inc. — 620 AI patents
- Microsoft Corporation — 617 AI patents
- Toyota Motor Corporation — 502 AI patents
- Capital One Financial Corp. — 469 AI patents
- Dell Technologies Inc. — 414 AI patents
- Bank of America Corporation — 377 AI patents
- NVIDIA Corporation — 374 AI patents
"The 2026 AI Patent 100 highlights how broadly AI is being patented today," said Rocky Berndsen, Head of Patent Analytics at Harrity & Harrity. "With Capital One at #7 — ahead of any other non-Big-Tech, non-auto company — and twelve automakers in the top 100, the data shows AI innovation is concentrating just as strongly in finance and mobility as it is in software."
How an "AI Patent" Is Defined
AI patents are identified using a combination of Cooperative Patent Classification (CPC) codes and a keyword query against patent titles, abstracts, and claims. The query covers machine learning and deep learning; neural network architectures (convolutional, recurrent, graph, and transformer); large language models and generative AI; natural language processing; computer vision and speech recognition; autonomous vehicles and ADAS; and robotics, chatbots, and virtual assistants.
How It Relates to the Patent 300®
The Patent 300® ranks organizations by total U.S. utility patents across all technologies. The AI Patent 100 narrows the lens to artificial-intelligence patents only, highlighting the firms leading specifically in AI innovation rather than overall patenting volume.
Want Deeper AI Patent Insights?
Harrity Patent Analytics delivers custom benchmarking, competitor portfolio analysis, and trend reporting for the IP teams shaping tomorrow's technology.
To explore the full rankings, industry treemap, and country breakdown, visit: www.harrityllp.com/ai-patent-100-list