In the first week of October, the US Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) unveiled an addition to its online services – the USPTO Virtual Assistant. This new feature, initially available on select patent webpages, represents the USPTO’s ongoing commitment to enhancing customer service and accessibility to its resources.
The Virtual Assistant provides answers to common queries and facilitates quick patent application status checks. Users can interact with the assistant by inputting questions like, “What’s the status of my application?” into the chat box, and entering their patent application number when prompted. The new functionality directs users to the most up-to-date information accessible through the Patent Center.
According to the USPTO, the new functionality leverages machine learning to provide better service to its users. The USPTO is requesting user feedback by providing a thumbs-up or thumbs-down to enhance this version of their Virtual Assistant.
For more information, access the USPTO’s official release here.
