Exploring the Role of Artificial Intelligence in Sustainable Development: A Bibliometric Analysis

With the growing importance of sustainability, particularly associated with sustainable development goals (SDGs) that pursue growth in economy as well as environmental sustainability. Researchers have increasingly focused on SDGs due to their profound social impact and the urgent need to promote sustainability across sectors. In this premise, one of the new technologies, that is, Artificial Intelligence (AI), lies in its potential to offer an exclusive opportunity to address critical challenges related to sustainability. However, there is a paucity of systematic researches that explore AI’s role in attaining sustainability. Therefore, this study offers a comprehensive overview and unified perspective through the Bibliometric approach by examining 1,342 studies. The study also highlights a significant shift towards holistic approaches, with a marked increase in publications and empirical studies since 2019, indicating the field’s rapid growth and maturity. Additionally, the findings highlight key journals, publications and contributors to this study and point to AI’s role in achieving sustainability in a variety of fields. It recognizes three crucial areas which will help both academics and practitioners in assessing their present trend of AI and sustainability practices, identifying potential research priorities and making informed decisions about AI investments for sustainable growth.