Technological impact, generality, and complementarity of artificial intelligence patents: Evidence from Samsung Electronics

Abstract

This study examines the extent to which artificial intelligence (AI) technologies are more pervasive and technologically complementary than non-AI technologies. Drawing on the literature on general purpose technologies (GPTs), we hypothesize that AI technologies exhibit greater pervasiveness-reflected in higher technological impact and broader generality-and stronger technological complementarity than non-AI patents. Using a firm-level analysis of patents filed by Samsung Electronics between 1982 and 2018, we find that AI patents demonstrate significantly higher impact, wider generality, and stronger systematic complementarity compared to matched non-AI patents. These results are robust across alternative matching specifications and multiple operationalizations of the key variables. Our findings offer firm-level empirical supporting AI's GPT-like characteristics and shed light on how AI-driven innovations may generate sustained incentives for technological advancement, even amid processes of creative destruction. The paper concludes by discussing key theoretical, managerial, and policy implications.