In 2025, Apple fell to seventh place in U.S. patent grants, receiving 2,722, an 11% drop from the previous year. Overall, U.S. patent activity declined for the sixth consecutive year, with a notable shift towards artificial intelligence and next-generation chip technologies. IBM also slipped out of the top 10 for the first time in 30 years, focusing on fewer key areas instead.

IBM TechXchange 2026 is set to take place from October 26-29 in Atlanta, GA, offering attendees a chance to save 50% on conference passes purchased by December 31, 2025. The event will celebrate innovation and community, featuring major announcements such as IBM's partnership with Anthropic and the introduction of Project Bob, an AI tool for software development.