Kathi Vidal and Danielle Williams Discuss AI, Digital Assets and Innovation in a Changing Regulatory Environment with the Charlotte Business Journal

Winston & Strawn partner and former Director of the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office Kathi Vidal and Charlotte Managing Partner and Co-Chair of the firm’s Intellectual Property Practice Danielle Williams were featured in a Charlotte Business Journal (CBJ) article discussing regulatory shifts in AI and digital assets. Kathi and Danielle spoke with CBJ while attending Winston’s annual Financial Services Symposium in Charlotte which included a full day of programming led by top industry thought leaders.  

Kathi spoke to “the growing influence of AI in innovation and the need for financial institutions to proactively shape intellectual property policies.” Commenting on patent eligibility in the financial-services sector, she said, “[t]hey really care about what the law looks like around whether a patent is actually eligible or not for patenting.” Regarding the role of AI in inventorship and patent eligibility, she expects those USPTO efforts to continue. "That work is really related to providing additional clarity on who's considered an inventor if you use artificial intelligence as part of the inventive process. What's patent eligible when you're actually inventing in AI?," she said.

Danielle discussed the regulatory changes affecting digital assets and cryptocurrency, noting that the “repeal of SAB 121 by the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission may open new opportunities for financial institutions to engage with digital assets, though the long-term impact remains uncertain.”

“I expect there will be a lot of opportunity for financial services to start participating and get some confidence from the SEC that they'll be able to participate without regulatory issues,” she said. Danielle also talked about the use of AI in financial services, noting its “immense potential” while also emphasizing “the importance of risk management,” explaining that clearer regulatory frameworks to guide AI’s use in financial institutions is key.”

Read the article.