The World Intellectual Property Organization has launched the Artificial Intelligence Infrastructure Interchange, a new initiative designed to facilitate expert dialogue on intellectual property and AI issues.
The platform will focus on technical and operational matters, complementing ongoing discussions at other WIPO forums.
More than 1,700 participants, including government ministers, industry leaders in AI and IP, and other stakeholders, registered for the launch event held at WIPO headquarters in Geneva.
In his opening address, WIPO Director General Daren Tang framed the initiative within the context of historical technological shifts. “AI has the power to change the nature of innovation and creativity. This poses challenges for the global IP ecosystem, but also gives us an opening to identify and seize new opportunities.”
AI Has The Power To Change The Nature Of Innovation And Creativity. This Poses Challenges For The Global IP Ecosystem, But Also Gives Us An Opening To Identify And Seize New Opportunities
WIPO Director General Daren Tang
Tang drew parallels to previous infrastructure developments. “History shows that new technologies only reach their full potential when the systems around them evolve too.
Railways transformed economies once networks became interoperable. Music streaming scaled once the industry built the metadata and rights infrastructure needed for content to move efficiently through the digital ecosystem. AI is now at a similar moment.”
He added that building strong infrastructure networks can help AI achieve its potential while supporting human innovators and creators.
Conversations under the AIII framework will bring together creators, rights holders, developers, technical experts, and other stakeholders.
Topics will include facilitating access to data at scale, identification and attribution standards, watermarking, fingerprinting, rights management, and the use of AI to address IP enforcement and infrastructure.
To support detailed technical discussions, WIPO has assembled a Technical Exchange Network comprising more than 90 experts from dozens of countries. The network includes representatives from technology firms, AI developers, rights holders, individual creators, academia, and civil society.
The network will initially focus on a mapping exercise of existing copyright infrastructure and the technical challenges and opportunities arising from the intersection of AI and the creative economy.
WIPO described the effort as the first of its kind. Results from the mapping will inform identification of targeted areas for further work.
Findings from the Technical Exchange Network will be shared at the AIII annual public meeting scheduled for October 2, 2026. Member state representatives and other stakeholders will provide input on the ongoing work at that gathering.
