Nurkhat Ibadildin

This study explores the integration of artificial intelligence (AI) into project management through a bibliometric analysis of scholarly publications and patents from 2001 to 2024. The paper aims to identify key trends, emerging applications, and global contributions to this evolving field. The study analyzes 51,752 patents from Lens, 5.5 million scholarly records from Google Scholar, and 436,380 records from Web of Science, providing a comprehensive overview of AI’s impact on project management. The analysis maps the evolution of AI-driven project management practices, focusing on resource allocation, risk management, and scheduling optimization. The findings reveal a substantial increase in AI-related project management research, with China and the United States leading in research output. A notable surge in publications post-2019 suggests acceleration due to the COVID-19 pandemic and the growing demand for digital transformation in project execution. Despite the rising adoption of AI in project management, research gaps persist, particularly in interdisciplinary methodologies, practical AI applications, and ethical concerns related to algorithmic decision-making. This study contributes to understanding AI’s transformative role in project management and highlights future research directions to enhance AI adoption for improved efficiency, decision-making, and project performance. The findings underscore the need for continued exploration of interdisciplinary approaches, practical implementations, and ethical considerations to foster innovation and efficiency in AI-driven project management.