Research pillar · Alpha to Patent

IP in a World of Abundant Intelligence

When intelligence and software become cheaper, durable advantage moves toward scarce context, rights, evidence, access, integration, and operating discipline.

The question

Which parts of an advantage remain scarce when capable models and competent software are widely available?

Active · since 2026 · Alpha to Patent

Run the compression test

Assume a strong team can reproduce the obvious software quickly. Remove what AI makes cheap, then inspect what is left.

Where scarcity movesCapabilities becoming easier are contrasted with context, access, evidence, rights, trust, distribution, and execution that may remain scarce.Becoming abundantGeneral reasoningRoutine softwareDrafting and analysisBasic configurationMay remain scarceContext and accessEvidence and rightsTrust and distributionExecution in the real world
Remove what is becoming cheap. Study what is left.

Track scarcity migration

Scarcity can move from code to proprietary evidence, distribution, workflow position, regulatory permission, trusted relationships, physical access, or the right to act.

Score resilience

An advantage is more resilient when better general models make it more useful rather than easier to replace. Test that claim against a named competitor and a defined time horizon.

Do not patent abundance

Broad access to a model, a prompt, or a familiar workflow is weak ground by itself. The stronger question is what unusual combination turns a common input into a result others cannot readily deliver.

Watch the cost curve

A protection decision should be revisited as inference, integration, development, and switching costs change. A moat can expire without a legal event.

Put this to work

AI compression test

Use the question “Which parts of an advantage remain scarce when capable models and competent software are widely available?” on a real case and produce a record another person can challenge.

For
Founders, product owners, inventors, and counsel preparing an initial rights discussion.
What you keep
A ai compression test you can review, revise, and send.
What counts as sound
  • Separates customer value from product features
  • Names the evidence for scarcity
  • Tests design-arounds
  • Explains what each proposed right would do
  • Ends with a dated decision

This is a research screen, not legal advice or a patentability opinion.

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Review the prompt

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Notes under this pillar

Design Patterns

  • AI compression test

    Assume capable AI makes ordinary reasoning and software cheap, then identify what remains scarce.

    September 2026

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