Date of this Version
4-1-2026
Document Type
Article
Abstract
Purpose
This paper will map the world of research on artificial intelligence and chatbots in libraries systematically by analysing the trends in publications, intellectual organization, pattern of collaboration, and the way the Social Science literature has evolved with the theme of artificial intelligence and chatbots published between 2022 and 2026.
Design/methodology/approach
We have conducted a thorough bibliometric search where we have considered 7,660 peer-reviewed journal articles found in Scopus database. The collection was compiled according to the PRISMA requirements, and later, both performance-based metrics and science mapping techniques were applied.The whole process of visualisation and analysis was carried out through the Bibliometrix and VOSviewer software tools.
Findings
The results reveal a rapid and sustained growth in research output from 2023 onwards, indicating increasing scholarly attention to ChatGPT and generative AI in library contexts. Research output is dominated by a small number of countries and institutions, particularly from China, the United States, and the United Kingdom, while citation impact is more widely distributed globally. Core journals such as Information Processing and Management and Education and Information Technologies serve as primary knowledge dissemination platforms.
Originality/value
The study is one of the first and most comprehensive bibliometric works examining Social Science research related to artificial intelligence and ChatGPT as applied to libraries.Through systematic mapping of the patterns of publication, recognizing the key players and following the development of thematic issues, it will provide new empirical evidence regarding how generative AI is changing the field of library and information science.
