AI, Budget Cuts, and the Future of In-House Patent Teams

Corporate IP departments are under growing pressure to do more with less. Budgets are tightening, leadership increasingly expects patents to deliver measurable business value, and artificial intelligence is rapidly changing how patent work can be performed. What does this mean for the future of in-house patent teams—and for the law firms that support them? In this episode of IPWatchdog Unleashed, Gene Quinn is joined by Sivon Kalminov, Director of Intellectual Property for Canon USA, and Fran Cruz, Senior Vice President of IP Solutions at JurisStat, for a wide-ranging discussion on how modern corporate IP departments are adapting to a rapidly changing environment. The conversation explores several major trends shaping patent strategy today, including the shift toward quality over quantity in patent portfolios, the growing emphasis on maintenance fee pruning and portfolio discipline, and the evolving relationship between in-house counsel and outside patent law firms. The panel also examines how companies are using competitive intelligence, patent analytics, and emerging AI tools to guide filing strategy, manage costs, and identify licensing and enforcement opportunities. Finally, the discussion tackles one of the biggest questions facing the IP profession: What can AI realistically do for patent practitioners today—and what can’t it do yet? While AI is proving valuable for tasks like patent searching, competitive landscape analysis, and data-driven strategy, it is far from a “magic button” that replaces human expertise. For anyone working in patent law, intellectual property strategy, or corporate innovation management, this conversation offers an inside look at how leading companies are navigating the new economics of patent practice. Topics discussed include: 1. How budget pressure is reshaping corporate patent strategy 2. Why companies are focusing on patent quality instead of quantity 3. Maintenance fee pruning and portfolio management strategies 4. How in-house teams are restructuring relationships with outside counsel 5. Where AI is actually useful in patent practice today Visit us online at https://ipwatchdog.com/