A bibliometric exploration of the intersection between artificial intelligence and social responsibility: evidence from scopus

Purpose. This paper aims to explore the intersection between artificial intelligence (AI) and social responsibility (SR) through a bibliometric analysis of 779 peer-reviewed articles published from 2019 to 2023 in the Scopus database. The study employs tools such as R Studio (Bibliometrix) and VOSviewer to identify key trends, influential authors, and research clusters within this emerging field.

Results. The analysis reveals an annual research growth rate of 54.46%, with significant contributions from prominent authors like Gupta S, Kumar A, and Mehmood R, and institutions such as Kaunas University of Technology and Wuhan University. The keyword analysis highlights six main research clusters: the use of AI in resource management with a focus on "water" and "irrigation"; topics around "AI," "sustainability," "corporate SR," and "ethics"; applications in "policymaking" and "governance"; and research related to "energy" and "investments." Despite the rapid growth, significant gaps persist, including a lack of comprehensive frameworks to integrate AI with broader SR practices, as well as geographic disparities, with dominant contributions from countries like China, the USA, and the UK, while regions such as Africa and the Middle East remain underrepresented.

Scientific novelty. This study contributes to the field by identifying critical gaps in current research on AI and SR, particularly the absence of integrated frameworks that address ethical AI applications across multiple sectors. It also highlights the need for more geographically diverse studies and calls for a more interdisciplinary approach to responsibly align AI practices with SR goals.

Practical value. The findings underscore the importance of fostering AI research that is not only technologically advanced but also ethically grounded, especially in underrepresented regions. By addressing existing gaps and encouraging interdisciplinary research, this study advocates for the responsible development of AI to enhance SR practices globally, thus fostering a more equitable and sustainable future.