The Automation of Science? Possibilities and Boundaries of AI Applications for Conducting Systematic Literature Reviews

Science automation, driven by advanced technologies, such as artificial intelligence (AI), is reshaping research in a variety of disciplines. The exponential growth of publications increases the need for automation in systematic literature reviews (SLRs). In this study, we investigated how AI applications support SLRs at different stages. After evaluating twenty-two AI applications, we identified the most useful based on their functionalities in the SLR process. This study provides important insights into the dynamic interplay between science automation, AI, and a systematic literature review. The main contribution is the identification and discussion of the relevance of the analyzed applications at different stages of the systematic literature review. We also discuss the potential for the automation and augmentation of research activities to address various scientific problems.