Past, Present, and Future of Artificial Intelligence in Education: A Bibliometric Study

Abstract

With the rapid advancement in technology, artificial intelligence has permeated every aspect of daily life. Education is no exception. Artificial intelligence in education (AIEd) has attracted great interest in the academic field. This bibliometric study aims to analyze and document the literature on AIEd from its emergence to 2023. AIEd-related publications were analysed for patterns, trends, and potential research gaps in the field. The search parameters were 'Artificial Intelligence in Education' in the article title, abstract, or topic. In order to examine the evolution of the concept holistically, no date restrictions were applied. The search, therefore, covered studies published from 1989 to 2023, with the first publication indexed in the Web of Science database marking the beginning of the timeline. The Web of Science was used as the main database and 905 studies were screened during the search. The Biblioshiny of R Software was used for descriptive and network analysis. The annual growth rate was calculated as 18.7%, indicating significant interest in the field. The results also showed that China, the USA, the UK, Australia, and Spain are the leading countries in the field of AIEd. Through thematic analysis, trending topics and engine, core, emerging, and niche themes were uncovered. Based on the research findings, the current study takes a forward-looking stance and goes beyond merely summarizing the past and present to provide insights on future linkages.