In a recent address at the American Intellectual Property Association’s annual meeting in Washington, D.C., U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) Director John A. Squires emphasized the agency’s commitment to integrating artificial intelligence (AI) technologies into its operations. Squires described AI as “the most transcendent and transformative technology of our time—perhaps of any time.”
Since his confirmation by the U.S. Senate on September 18, 2025, Squires has taken decisive steps to modernize the USPTO. On his first full day in office, he issued patents in areas such as distributed ledger technologies and medical diagnostics, signaling a proactive approach to emerging technologies. He stated, “I want inventors and entrepreneurs everywhere to know that the USPTO is open for business—especially for the technologies of tomorrow.” ([uspto.gov](https://www.uspto.gov/about-us/news-updates/uspto-director-john-squires-issues-first-patents-tenure?utm_source=openai))
Squires’ background includes serving as Chief IP Counsel for Goldman Sachs from 2000 to 2009 and leading the IP and Emerging Companies Practice at Dilworth Paxson LLP. His experience spans various scientific and technological disciplines, including AI, blockchain, and fintech. ([uspto.gov](https://www.uspto.gov/about-us/john-squires?utm_source=openai))
In a notable early action, Squires vacated a Patent Trial and Appeal Board (PTAB) decision that had introduced a new ground of rejection under 35 U.S.C. § 101 against a DeepMind Technologies’ machine learning patent application. He emphasized that categorically excluding AI innovations from patent protection could jeopardize America’s leadership in this critical emerging technology. ([patentlyo.com](https://patentlyo.com/patent/2025/09/director-squires-rejections.html?utm_source=openai))
Squires’ initiatives reflect a broader effort to align the USPTO’s policies with the rapid advancements in AI and related fields, aiming to foster innovation and maintain the United States’ competitive edge in technology.