Exploring Global Research Trends on AI-Driven Assistive Technologies for the Visually Impaired: A Bibliometric and Network Visualization Study

Artificial intelligence (AI) is increasingly transforming assistive technologies for visually impaired individuals, offering new possibilities for navigation, scene understanding, and daily mobility. This study maps global research trends in this growing field using a bibliometric and network visualization approach. A comprehensive Scopus search covering 2015–2025 was conducted, yielding 403 records. Following PRISMA 2020 screening procedures, 328 publications were included for analysis. Descriptive bibliometric techniques were used to examine publication growth, subject areas, document types, and leading countries and institutions. Network analysis using VOSviewer identified major themes and keyword co-occurrence patterns. The findings reveal a strong rise in publications from 2020 onward, aligned with advances in deep learning, object detection, and lightweight embedded systems. Research activity is dominated by Computer Science and Engineering, with India and the United States emerging as the most productive contributors. Keyword clustering highlights core themes such as assistive technology, AI, object detection, and navigation, alongside increasing attention to user experience and ethical issues. Overall, the study provides a clear overview of how AI-driven assistive technologies for visually impaired users have evolved and identifies important gaps to guide future research.