Visualizing Trends in Chat Generative Pretrained Transformer Research in Higher Education: Early-Stage Bibliometric Analysis

The rapid emergence of chat generative pretrained transformer (ChatGPT) has attracted considerable attention in higher education (HE), yet its research development remains insufficiently understood. This study provides an early-stage bibliometric analysis of 140 Scopus-indexed articles to map research trends in this field. The results show a sharp increase in publications, with China, the United States, and the United Kingdom as the leading contributors. Co-occurrence analysis identified three major themes: educational applications, learner interactions, and technological dimensions. Overlay visualization revealed emerging topics such as intention, relationship, and social influence, indicating a growing focus on adoption and behavioral aspects of ChatGPT in HE.