China Ranks First In The World In AI Patents

More patents related to generative artificial intelligence have been filed by China every year since 2017 than by the rest of the world, the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) reported to the United Nations in Geneva, DPA reported. Examples include artificial intelligence applications such as ChatGPT or Gemini .

KEY FACTS

According to WIPO, Chinese companies and institutes registered over 38,000 patents in the field of generative AI in the 10 years to 2023.
Far behind is the US with 6,300, followed by South Korea, Japan and India. Britain is in fifth place with 714, closely followed by Germany with 708, which WIPO says has registered more patents than the UK in recent years.
The increase in patent applications worldwide also shows that the sector is booming. According to WIPO, there were a total of 54,000 patent applications in the field of generative AI between 2014 and 2023, but over a quarter of those were filed in the past year alone.

KEY QUOTE

“Generative AI has emerged as a game-changing technology with the potential to transform the way we work, live and play,” said WIPO Director General Darren Tang.

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Digital Euro Moves Forward In EU Push For Payment Independence

by THEFUTURE.TEAM

April 28, 2026

Strengthening Strategic Autonomy

At an event held at the House of the Euro in Brussels on April 22, central bank officials discussed the role of a digital euro in strengthening the European Union’s financial independence. Participants included Stelios Georgakis, Payments Supervision Director at the Central Bank of Cyprus, and Joachim Nagel, President of the Deutsche Bundesbank.

Redefining Central Bank Role In A Digital Era

Nagel stated that the digital euro is no longer viewed solely as a technical development but also as part of a broader policy direction. He emphasized the need to strengthen Europe’s payment infrastructure to ensure resilience and independence. The digital euro is intended to complement cash rather than replace it, maintaining the role of central bank money in a more digital financial system.

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Reducing Dependence On Non-European Infrastructure

According to Nagel, around two-thirds of card payments in Europe currently rely on non-European systems. This reliance is seen as a structural vulnerability. A digital euro could help reduce this dependency by supporting a more integrated and locally controlled payments framework.

Legislative Roadmap And Timeline

Looking ahead, Nagel expressed a strong optimism regarding the legislative process, suggesting that completion could occur by year‑end. This progress may set the stage for the first issuance of the digital euro as early as 2029, in alignment with Europe’s broader ambitions for financial resilience and technological advancement.

Comprehensive Payments Strategy

During the discussion, Georgakis outlined the European Central Bank’s approach to payments. The strategy combines retail and wholesale systems, including instant payments, a digital euro, and infrastructure based on distributed ledger technology. Improving cross-border payment efficiency remains a key objective.

Transforming Europe’s Financial Landscape

The discussion reflected alignment between central banks, policymakers, and other stakeholders on the direction of Europe’s payment systems. Development of a digital euro is positioned as part of a broader effort to strengthen financial infrastructure, support economic resilience, and maintain the euro’s role in a changing global environment.

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