RESEARCH · RESEARCH · #2519
NBER RCT finds Google Labs' InFlow boosts patent-drafting performance but juniors don't retain skills
A three-month randomized controlled trial by NBER tested an unreleased Google Labs assistant called InFlow with 133 patent attorneys across 11 U.S. IP firms. AI assistance substantially improved immediate patent-drafting scores—especially for attorneys with under seven years' experience—but when evaluated unaided, only senior attorneys retained benefits and junior attorneys showed no lasting improvement on a redlining task.
KEY POINTS
- A three-month randomized controlled trial by NBER tested an unreleased Google Labs assistant called InFlow with 133 patent attorneys across 11 U.S.
- AI assistance substantially improved immediate patent-drafting scores—especially for attorneys with under seven years' experience—but when evaluated unaided, only senior attorneys retained benefits and junior attorneys showed no lasting improvement on a redlining task.
- Shows a tension where AI can raise short-term productivity—particularly for junior workers—while failing to produce durable judgment skills, with implications for training and professional standards.
WHY IT MATTERS
Shows a tension where AI can raise short-term productivity—particularly for junior workers—while failing to produce durable judgment skills, with implications for training and professional standards.