Bibliometric Analysis of Artificial Intelligence Research on Leadership

Abstract

This study aims to examine research trends on leadership and artificial intelligence (AI) applications through a bibliometric method, based on academic publications between 2015 and 2025. AI has the potential to transform educational management through functions such as data analysis, predictive modeling, learning analytics, and the automation of administrative processes. The data of the study were obtained from the Web of Science database by searching with the keywords “artificial intelligence” and “leadership” or “education.” Within the scope of bibliometric analysis, the distribution of publications by year, research method, country, subject area, author, and Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) was examined. The findings show that 77 open-access articles on the subject were published between 2015 and 2025. It was observed that the number of publications increased especially after 2021 and reached its highest level in 2024. The majority of the studies are in the field of educational research, and it was determined that most of the publications originated from the USA, China, the UK, and Australia. Only one publication from Türkiye was identified. In terms of SDGs, it was determined that the goals of “Quality Education” and “Good Health and Well-being” were mostly addressed, while themes of social equality and justice were limited. According to the results of the study, although academic interest in AI and leadership is on the rise, studies are concentrated around certain countries and themes, while social dimensions are relatively neglected. It is recommended that future studies strengthen an interdisciplinary approach and cover different cultural contexts.