Tobias Diebold, Stephan Zimmer
Artificial intelligence has become one of the most discussed topics in business. Yet the central question is no longer what AI can do, but how organizations can use it responsibly and turn its capabilities into measurable value.
For intellectual property teams, the opportunity extends far beyond automating isolated tasks. It involves redesigning workflows, improving access to trusted information and allowing professionals to focus on decisions where their expertise matters mos
In a recent Dennemeyer x R2PI podcast recorded at CEIPI, Tobias Diebold, CEO of Dennemeyer, and Stephan Zimmer, Managing Director Technology, discuss how AI is reshaping IP management and why human judgment must remain central to this transformation.
What will you discover in the podcast? Here is a first glimpse at three of the key topics discussed:
Listen to the podcastDespite the enthusiasm surrounding AI, many companies are still experimenting with the technology rather than redesigning their operations around it. Simply introducing a chatbot or adding AI to an existing process is unlikely to unlock its full potential.
“There is a big gap between what the technology can do and how enterprises are deploying it. Every organization has to determine how it can unlock these capabilities.” Tobias Diebold
Within an IP department, a practical use case might involve using AI to gather information from different sources, surface relevant portfolio updates and reduce the need to move data manually between systems. This would allow IP professionals to dedicate more time to portfolio strategy, risk assessment and business decisions.
“The biggest impact is on information-intensive, repetitive workflows. AI can reduce that workload significantly and allow highly qualified IP professionals to focus on portfolio strategy, risk assessments and ultimately taking business decisions.” Stephan Zimmer
However, information processing and routine execution are not the same as accountability. When a decision has legal, strategic or financial consequences, a person must remain responsible for the outcome. AI can inform the decision, but it should not own it.
Trust is essential when AI is used in legal and IP environments. Organizations must consider data quality, confidentiality, security, traceability, regulatory requirements and responsibility for each outcome.
“Technology is only part of the answer. You need correct data you trust, clear governance, secure integration into existing workflows and, ultimately, a shared understanding of who is responsible for the outcome.” Stephan Zimmer
These principles have informed the development of DIAMS Infinity, Dennemeyer’s next-generation IP management platform, developed in-house from the ground up as an AI-native cloud application. Rather than offering AI as a separate tool, DIAMS Infinity is designed to incorporate it into users’ workflows, supporting faster access to information, reduced administrative effort and better-informed decisions.
“AI delivers value when users see it embedded in their workflows. They don’t want to use AI simply to tick a box. They want faster access to information, reduced administrative effort or better decisions.” Stephan Zimmer
Developing AI for an IP setting is particularly challenging because the correct answer may depend on the jurisdiction, case history, filing data or portfolio-specific context. AI may help surface relevant information, but human involvement remains essential when the appropriate course of action requires legal judgment or strategic responsibility.
IP management also draws on complex rules and specialized knowledge accumulated over many years. The challenge is to integrate that complexity into an intuitive system without losing the accuracy and context required for reliable decisions.
“The challenge is to bring this complexity and the many different rules into one system, while making it simple and intuitive for clients to use.” Tobias Diebold
Governance must therefore be incorporated throughout product development, not added as a final compliance check. Organizations need to define what can happen automatically, what requires review and who owns the final decision.
A common misconception is that AI will make professional expertise less important. In reality, it may increase its reach and value.
“AI increases the leverage of human experts. When specialist knowledge is structured and made reusable, one expert can influence the judgment of many more workflows.” Stephan Zimmer
Generic AI models can process large volumes of information, but they do not automatically possess an organization’s proprietary knowledge, portfolio history or professional accountability. These elements provide the context that transforms information into reliable judgment.
In practice, AI could handle more of the information gathering and routine processing that currently occupies IP professionals. Experts would then concentrate on strategic analysis, commercial alignment, portfolio development and risk-based decisions.
“The machine will not replace the human, but humans using the machine may replace humans not using the machine.” Tobias Diebold
This evolution will require professionals to develop new skills. In addition to specialist IP knowledge, they will need to understand how to work with AI-enabled tools, define the right problem, critically assess outputs and recognize when human intervention is required.
AI will not create lasting business value simply because employees receive access to a new tool. Organizations must identify meaningful use cases, redesign workflows, organize trusted knowledge and establish clear governance.
For IP teams, the most valuable applications may be those working quietly in the background: reducing administrative effort, maintaining matter context, improving access to portfolio information and directing professionals toward decisions that genuinely require their expertise.
“The question is no longer whether AI will change intellectual property management. It is how organizations can embed it into trusted workflows that make specialist knowledge more accessible, decisions better informed and IP professionals more strategically effective.” Tobias Diebold
Listen to the full Dennemeyer x R2PI podcast to hear Tobias Diebold and Stephan Zimmer discuss AI adoption, DIAMS Infinity, trustworthy legal technology and the future of IP work.
Listen to the podcast
As of July 1, 2022, Tobias Diebold was appointed Chief Executive Officer of the Dennemeyer Group. He took over the CEO role from Dr. Reinhold Nowak.
Tobias Diebold joined Dennemeyer in 2018 as Chief Commercial Officer. In this role, he oversaw the company's global business development and marketing activities.
Tobias Diebold started his career in marketing and advertising, working for Serviceplan in Munich. Prior to joining Dennemeyer, he spent 10 years in multiple management positions at Deutsche Lufthansa AG. Starting as a management trainee and assistant to the Chief Commercial Officer, he became Director of Business Development of the LSG Group, responsible for strategy, business development and M&A in emerging markets. In 2015, he was appointed Managing Director Sales & Products, responsible for worldwide sales and product development.
Tobias Diebold speaks English and German and has been active in the field of IP since 2018.
As of July 1, 2022, Tobias Diebold was appointed Chief Executive Officer of the Dennemeyer Group. He took over the CEO role from Dr. Reinhold Nowak.
Tobias Diebold joined Dennemeyer in 2018 as Chief Commercial Officer. In this role, he oversaw the company's global business development and marketing activities.
Tobias Diebold started his career in marketing and advertising, working for Serviceplan in Munich. Prior to joining Dennemeyer, he spent 10 years in multiple management positions at Deutsche Lufthansa AG. Starting as a management trainee and assistant to the Chief Commercial Officer, he became Director of Business Development of the LSG Group, responsible for strategy, business development and M&A in emerging markets. In 2015, he was appointed Managing Director Sales & Products, responsible for worldwide sales and product development.
Tobias Diebold speaks English and German and has been active in the field of IP since 2018.
Stephan Zimmer is an experienced professional in software engineering, as well as software & solution architecture. He is an early adopter of an agile approach for the development of software solutions and has a track record of delivering long-term business success this way. Stephan Zimmer is one of DIAMS iQ's creators, which is the flagship product of Dennemeyer.
Before Dennemeyer, Stephan Zimmer held several positions in software engineering and consultancy. As Managing Director Software Solutions, he drives Dennemeyer's ambition of providing a fully digital customer experience through outstanding software solutions for IP management.
Stephan Zimmer speaks English, German and French and has been active in the field of IP since 2008.
Area of expertise: computer science, technology commercialization, technology management, negotiations, project management, strategy
Stephan Zimmer is an experienced professional in software engineering, as well as software & solution architecture. He is an early adopter of an agile approach for the development of software solutions and has a track record of delivering long-term business success this way. Stephan Zimmer is one of DIAMS iQ's creators, which is the flagship product of Dennemeyer.
Before Dennemeyer, Stephan Zimmer held several positions in software engineering and consultancy. As Managing Director Software Solutions, he drives Dennemeyer's ambition of providing a fully digital customer experience through outstanding software solutions for IP management.
Stephan Zimmer speaks English, German and French and has been active in the field of IP since 2008.
Area of expertise: computer science, technology commercialization, technology management, negotiations, project management, strategy