A Bibliometric View of AI Ethics Development

AI Ethics research has evolved through distinct phases: The field progressed from an incubation phase, through a focus on making AI "human-like," to the current emphasis on "human-centric" AI design, showing how priorities have shifted as the technology has matured.

The field is relatively young but rapidly growing: As a "nascent yet critical research field," AI Ethics has only recently become a major focus of academic attention, suggesting there is still significant room for the field to develop frameworks and best practices for responsible AI development.

Recent advances in generative AI have renewed urgency: The emergence of large language models and foundational AI systems has prompted researchers to reassess AI Ethics priorities, indicating that the field must continuously adapt to keep pace with technological breakthroughs.

Future AI Ethics may need to shift focus again: The authors predict the next phase will involve making AI "more machine-like" as systems potentially match or exceed human intellectual capabilities, suggesting that responsible AI governance will need to evolve beyond current human-centric approaches as AI capabilities advance.

Bibliometric analysis reveals research trends: By systematically analyzing 20 years of AI Ethics literature, this study provides evidence-based insights into how the field's priorities and concerns have changed over time, offering a foundation for understanding where responsible AI research should focus next.