---
title: "Tech Roundup: AI Patent Laws, Alphabet’s Election Safeguards, Intel’s Mega Investment, and OpenAI’s Funding Surge"
description: From court rulings affecting AI’s legal status to massive funding rounds, here’s the latest tech stories you might have missed.
author: Darie Nani (Editor-in-Chief)
date: 2023-12-28T12:29:39.000Z
updated: 2026-04-01T12:06:01.556Z
canonical: https://www.sovereignmagazine.com/article/tech-roundup-ai-patent-laws-alphabet-s-election-safeguards-intel-s-mega-investment-and-openai
image: https://cdn.nanimediahouse.com/vgu5ziey57a.jpg
categories: Science & Tech
content_type: News
region: United Kingdom
publication: Sovereign Magazine
---

## AI Cannot Hold Patents: UK Supreme Court’s Landmark Ruling

In a landmark ruling that sets a significant precedent in intellectual property law, the UK Supreme Court has declared that [artificial intelligence systems cannot be recognized as inventors](https://www.supremecourt.uk/cases/uksc-2021-0201.html) under current patent law. The decision came in the case involving Stephen Thaler’s AI system, DABUS, which had sparked a global debate on the legal recognition of AI in patent processes. This ruling reaffirms the necessity for an inventor to be a natural person, a principle that may shape the future of [AI-driven innovations](/category/science-amp-techartificial-intelligence/anthropics-historic-copyright-settlement-could-reshape-ai-industrys/) and their legal protections.

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## Alphabet Tightens Grip on AI-Driven Election Content

In a move reflecting heightened concerns over the impact of artificial intelligence on public opinion, Alphabet, the parent company of Google, has announced [restrictions on election-related queries on Bard](https://www.reuters.com/technology/alphabet-limit-election-queries-bard-ai-based-search-can-answer-2023-12-19/), its AI-driven search tool. This decision is a proactive measure to curb the potential spread of misinformation during election periods, underscoring the tech giant’s commitment to responsible AI use in politically sensitive contexts.

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## Intel’s New Chapter in Israel with a $25 Billion Chip Plant

In a significant boost to the global semiconductor industry, [Intel has received a $3.2 billion grant](https://www.reuters.com/technology/intel-get-32-billion-government-grant-new-25-billion-israel-chip-plant-2023-12-26/) from the Israeli government for building a new chip plant worth $25 billion in southern Israel. This project, the largest investment in Israel’s tech history, represents a major expansion of [Intel’s manufacturing capabilities](https://www.sovereignmagazine.com/article/softbank-s-2-billion-intel-bet-highlights-private-capital-s-new-role-in-u-s-chip-supremacy) and a strategic move in the highly competitive semiconductor market.

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## OpenAI’s Valuation Soars with Potential $100 Billion Funding

OpenAI, a frontrunner in the field of [artificial intelligence](https://www.sovereignmagazine.com/article/the-promise-and-pressure-of-the-uk-s-ai-aspirations), is reportedly in early talks to secure a new round of funding that could value the company at or above $100 billion. This development, as reported by [Bloomberg News](https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2023-12-22/openai-in-talks-to-raise-new-funding-at-100-billion-valuation), indicates the surging interest and confidence in the AI sector, highlighting OpenAI’s influential role in shaping the future of machine learning and AI applications.