Artificial intelligence is rapidly becoming central to areas such as public health, education, agriculture, and climate resilience. In this context, the role of the State is coming into sharper focus, particularly in how governments can shape innovation to serve broad social goals. Intellectual property frameworks, often seen as tools for exclusivity, are being repurposed to support inclusive access and public benefit.
This special episode of Intangiblia was recorded as part of my participation in the workshop “The Role of the State in Advancing Equitable Access to AI,” taking place in Oxford in September 2025. Organized by Sumaya Nur Adan and Joanna Wiaterek, and supported by the Future of Life Institute, the event brings together legal scholars, policymakers, and technologists to examine how States can ensure that the benefits of AI are equitably shared.
The episode explores five legal and policy mechanisms that are already influencing how AI is governed through intellectual property. It discusses Canada’s ongoing efforts to map and license Crown-owned patents under a broader national strategy. It examines Singapore’s copyright reforms, which have introduced clear legal exceptions to support AI model training. The conversation also includes examples of culturally aware AI development, such as the open-source Falcon model in the UAE and community-led Indigenous data initiatives in New Zealand. It looks at how public interest licensing and voluntary IP pools are evolving in fields beyond health, and how state-led initiatives, such as public procurement and open research mandates, are being used to align technological development with social needs.
The episode also reviews recent legal rulings in the United States that have tested the limits of fair use in AI training. These include the 2024 decision involving OpenAI, the 2025 dismissal of claims against Meta, and the Bartz v. Anthropic case presided over by Judge Alsup, which underscored the difference between statistical pattern recognition and direct reproduction of copyrighted works.
Rather than focusing solely on restrictions or incentives, the discussion emphasizes how IP law can serve as a strategic governance tool. By adapting legal frameworks to current challenges, States can guide AI innovation toward inclusive outcomes and help ensure that technological advancement remains aligned with the public good.
