PQAI
What it is
PQAI is a patent-search platform that uses AI to help find prior art relevant to an invention. Searchers can describe an invention in everyday language rather than use a prescribed format or technical terminology. Its tools include semantic search, CPC Classification Prediction, Technical Concept Extraction, and Patent Data Retrieval. The free plan searches across 100M+ patents and provides up to 20 results per query at standard speed. PQAI+ offers up to 500 results per query, faster search, full-text excerpts, export, and 20 API requests per month. The service is available on the web and through an API, and PQAI describes it as open source. API plans include MCP server access and compatibility with Claude, ChatGPT, and Gemini. PQAI offers website embedding through an iFrame, with guidance for WordPress, Wix, and custom sites. It says queries are erased from its servers after results are generated. API safeguards include token-based authentication, HTTPS, rate limits, and access controls. The Free plan is free; paid plans start at $20 a month.
For and against
For
- Natural-language invention descriptions
- Free search across 100M+ patents
- Includes classification and concept-extraction tools
- API plans offer MCP server access
- iFrame embedding guidance for several site types
Against
- Free queries return up to 20 results
- Free plan uses standard search speed
- PQAI+ includes 20 API requests monthly
- Commercial product integration requires a commercial API or Enterprise plan
The verdict
PQAI combines natural-language patent search with classification, concept extraction, and patent data retrieval. The free plan offers a way to search, while paid options add higher result limits or API capacity.
Who it suits
It suits inventors, law firms, patent examiners, enterprises, and R&D teams looking for prior art. Developers can use its API, and site owners can embed search with an iFrame.
Plans and prices
Free
100M+ patents · up to 20 results/query · standard speed · CPC prediction
Read 15 Oct 2026 · projectpq.ai
PQAI+ Monthly
up to 500 results/query · super-fast speed · full-text excerpts · export
Read 15 Oct 2026 · projectpq.ai
API Starter
50 API queries/month · US REST search · MCP server · Claude/ChatGPT/Gemini compatibility
Read 15 Oct 2026 · projectpq.ai
API Developer
600 API queries/month · 600-query top-up for $199 · personal/experimental use · usage dashboard
Read 15 Oct 2026 · projectpq.ai
PQAI+ Annual
up to 500 results/query · super-fast speed · full-text excerpts · export
Read 15 Oct 2026 · projectpq.ai
API Enterprise
3,000 API queries/month · commercial-use licence · platform/product integrations · priority support
Read 15 Oct 2026 · projectpq.ai
Starter
50 API queries/month · US patent REST API · MCP server access · works with Claude, ChatGPT, Gemini
Read 7 Oct 2026 · projectpq.ai
Developer
600 API queries/month · top-up: $199 for 600 more queries · experimentation and personal use · usage dashboard and audit logs
Read 7 Oct 2026 · projectpq.ai
Enterprise
3,000 API queries/month · commercial-use license · platform and product integrations · priority support
Read 7 Oct 2026 · projectpq.ai
On the record
- API authentication
- API requests use unique token authentication and HTTPS transport.projectpq.ai · read 15 Oct 2026
- API documentation
- The public API guide documents routes, path/query parameters, authentication and example responses.api.projectpq.ai · read 15 Oct 2026
- API limit
- The PQAI+ plans include 20 API requests per month, and the page says responses stop until the next billing cycle after the limit is reached.projectpq.ai · read 7 Oct 2026
- Audience
- PQAI identifies individual inventors, law firms, patent examiners, enterprises, and R&D teams as users.projectpq.ai · read 7 Oct 2026
- Browser storage
- Saved or bookmarked results are stored in the user’s browser rather than uploaded to PQAI servers.projectpq.ai · read 15 Oct 2026
- Commercial API use
- Commercial integration into a user's own product or platform requires a commercial API or Enterprise plan.projectpq.ai · read 7 Oct 2026
- Company origin
- LinkedIn says AT&T initiated the PQAI project and that other groups and companies support it.linkedin.com · read 15 Oct 2026
- Company profile
- LinkedIn lists PQAI as a nonprofit software-development organization headquartered in the United States with 2–10 employees.linkedin.com · read 15 Oct 2026
- Concept extraction
- The API and search product extract technical concepts from supplied text or patents.projectpq.ai · read 15 Oct 2026
- Coverage expansion
- A December 17, 2024 update says coverage reached patents from 68 countries and more than 100 million research papers.search.projectpq.ai · read 15 Oct 2026
- CPC prediction
- PQAI predicts Cooperative Patent Classification codes from technical text.projectpq.ai · read 15 Oct 2026
- Export
- Search results can be exported for offline review, with the paid search plan allowing up to 500 results.projectpq.ai · read 15 Oct 2026
- Funding fact
- The same IFIA report said AT&T funded the PQAI project with $2 million.ifia.com · read 15 Oct 2026
- Independent availability claim
- Founders Legal describes its PQAI collaboration as offering unlimited free searches, confidential processing and downloadable reports.founderslegal.com · read 15 Oct 2026
- Independent launch news
- IFIA reported on May 13, 2021 that PQAI was an open-source nonprofit initiative launched with IFIA involvement.ifia.com · read 15 Oct 2026
- Independent result-limit complaint
- Founders Legal’s embedded PQAI tool explains that its interface intentionally presents only ten results and directs users needing broader coverage to professional services.founderslegal.com · read 15 Oct 2026
- Integrations
- The API plans include MCP server access and state compatibility with Claude, ChatGPT, and Gemini.projectpq.ai · read 7 Oct 2026
- Licence
- The public PQAI repository states that the project is open source under the MIT licence.github.com · read 15 Oct 2026
