Google's InFlow may boost junior patent attorneys but could stunt skill growth
A three‑month randomized trial involving 133 patent attorneys at eleven U.S. IP law firms examined the impact of Google‑funded AI assistant “InFlow.” Participants used the unreleased tool for two drafting tasks and later completed a redlining task without AI. In the drafting phase, the treatment group outperformed the control group, with the biggest gains seen among junior attorneys with fewer…
Key points
- In a three‑month RCT with 133 patent attorneys, Google‑funded “InFlow” AI boosted drafting scores, especially for juniors with under seven years experience.
- When AI was removed for a redlining task, only senior attorneys retained performance gains; junior attorneys showed no lasting benefit.
- Researchers suggest baseline expertise may be needed for AI‑assisted work to become durable skill, warning of possible skill erosion.
When the AI was removed for the redlining task, only senior attorneys retained the performance advantage; junior attorneys showed no lasting benefit and their scores split between higher and lower extremes. The authors suggest that baseline expertise may be required for AI‑assisted work to translate into durable skill, warning that AI could accelerate productivity while potentially eroding professional growth for less‑experienced workers. The paper notes similar patterns in software development, essay writing, and consulting, and frames the findings within a broader debate about the “tragedy of the cognitive commons.”
The story so far
2 episodes →- Google's InFlow may boost junior patent attorneys but could stunt skill growththis story
AI makes junior patent attorneys instantly better but may quietly stunt their professional growth
The Decoder · 24 October 2026
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This text was published by The Decoder and written by Jonathan Kemper. It is reproduced here with attribution so you can read it in full; the rights remain with the publisher. Read it at the source ↗
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