Jerry Ma is an American technology executive, policy advisor, and researcher specializing in artificial intelligence. He currently serves as the Vice President of Global Affairs and Deputy Chief Technology Officer at Perplexity AI. Previously, Ma held prominent roles in the U.S. federal government, including serving as the first Chief AI Officer and Director of Emerging Technology at the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO). ^{[1] [2]}​

Education

Jerry Ma earned a Juris Doctor degree from Yale Law School. He previously completed an A.B. at Harvard University, where he studied Economics as his primary field and Classics as a secondary field. ^[1]

Career

Jerry Ma’s career has encompassed senior roles in both the private technology sector and the U.S. federal government, with a focus on artificial intelligence development, deployment, and public policy. After working in Silicon Valley in research, engineering, and quantitative roles at organizations such as Meta (Facebook AI Research), Quora, Palantir Technologies, and several financial firms, he entered public service in 2020 when he joined the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO). At the USPTO, Ma was appointed the agency’s first Chief AI Officer and Director of Emerging Technology, where he was responsible for coordinating and advancing a unified approach to artificial intelligence across the organization. His work centered on consolidating previously fragmented AI initiatives, establishing governance frameworks for responsible experimentation, and supporting the integration of AI systems into core agency operations. During this period, he also served on executive detail to the U.S. Department of Justice’s Antitrust Division, advising on technology-related enforcement and policy matters, and participated in interagency coordination through the Networking and Information Technology Research and Development (NITRD) Program and the National Science and Technology Council’s ML/AI Subcommittee. ^[2]

While at the USPTO, Ma oversaw the development of internal and public-facing AI tools intended to assist patent examiners and applicants in managing the growing volume and complexity of modern inventions. In parallel, he played a central role in shaping the agency’s policy framework on artificial intelligence and intellectual property, contributing to guidance on AI-assisted inventorship and related issues concerning patent eligibility and legal practice. Following his government service, Ma joined Perplexity in 2025 as Vice President of Global Affairs and Deputy Chief Technology Officer. In these roles, he oversees public policy and global engagement while also contributing to technical leadership, research direction, and product strategy. ^{[1] [3]}

Awards and Recognition

• Samuel J. Heyman Service to Americas Medal (2024): Ma was a 2024 winner of the Service to America Medal, often referred to as a "Sammie." He was honored in the Emerging Leaders category for his work at the USPTO, specifically for "developing new technology tools for patent and trademark examiners and leading the establishment of the agency's AI policy for inventions." ^{[1] [3]}
• Presidential Rank Award: He is a recipient of the Presidential Rank Award, a distinguished honor for career members of the Senior Executive Service in the U.S. federal government for exceptional performance over an extended period. ^{[1] [2]}