Artificial Intelligence in Applied Linguistics Research: A Bibliometric Study Tracing Between the Years of 2017 and 2024

Objectives Drawn upon data from 117 full-length research articles from 19 Social Science Citation Index (SSCI)-indexed journals of applied linguistics, the current study presents a bibliometric analysis of the use of artificial intelligence (AI) in the field from 2017 to 2024. It examines various aspects, including the most frequently discussed topics, the most highly cited publications, the countries and institutions' contributions, and the shifts in citation trends locally and globally. Methods The study employed bibliometric techniques to analyze publication trends, citation patterns, and thematic focuses across SSCI-indexed applied linguistics journals, covering the period between 2017 and 2024. Results The results show that there has been a substantial increase in the number of applied linguistics studies discussing AI and their citations since 2021. As for the country-based analysis, China is the leading country in single-country publications; however, in the multi-country publications, the USA is taking the lead, followed by the UK. Frequently discussed topics such as ChatGPT, language learning, student performance, and automated assessment and feedback indicate intense research on applying AI to enhance language learning and assessment. Furthermore, keywords such as "machine learning," "chatbots," "NLP," and "large language model" form another cluster, showcasing the various AI technologies employed in applied linguistics. Conclusion Overall, these trends underscore a robust and evolving intersection of technology and education, suggesting that future research may further illuminate the transformative potential of AI in language acquisition and pedagogy.