AI helps senior patent lawyers build judgment but not junior ones, study finds

Key points

• Three-month randomized trial with 133 lawyers at eleven IP firms tested a Google Labs patent drafting assistant.
• Senior lawyers (7+ years) scored 0.45 SD higher on unassisted redlining after 90 days of AI access.
• Junior lawyers showed no average redlining gain; their scores split into more very low and more good results.
• Drafting quality rose for everyone, with 0.38 SD gain at 90 days and faster junior work, 18 minutes ahead of control.

Why it matters for marketers: Content and marketing teams using AI should test unassisted skill, not only output speed, when training junior staff, since gains may not transfer.