Counting ROI or Chasing Hype: Stephanie Curcio on the True Test of AI in Patents

In this episode of IP Innovators, host Steve Brachmann sits down with Stephanie Curcio, CEO and co-founder of NLPatent, to explore how AI has evolved from concept-based prior art search to touching every stage of the patent lifecycle. Stephanie reflects on her journey from patent prosecution to legal tech founder and what she’s learned from being an early mover in AI for IP.

She also digs into the real ROI of AI tools, why efficiency isn’t the only metric that matters, and how firms should think about ethics, security, and the quiet comeback of the build vs. buy debate. From sneaky “AI features” in legacy tools to modular tech stacks and in-house workflows, Stephanie shares a candid view of where AI in patent practice is today—and where it’s headed next.

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About the Guest:

Stephanie Curcio is the CEO and co-founder of NL Patent, an AI-native platform for searching and analyzing patent data. A former patent attorney, she has held leadership roles within the American Intellectual Property Law Association’s Emerging Technologies Committee and serves on the advisory board of IP Watchdog.

Sponsored by DeepIP—your patent intelligence platform, from idea to enforcement.

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