ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE FOR SUSTAINABLE SMEs: BIBLIOMETRIC ANALYSIS OF GLOBAL RESEARCH TRENDS (2018 – 2025)

This article examines the intellectual structure and developmental trends of studies on artificial intelligence (AI), sustainable development, and small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). While the importance of AI as a tool for business transformation is widely recognized, the relationship between AI and sustainable development in the SME sector remains theoretically under-explored. This study aims to address this gap by applying a bibliometric approach to 248 scientific articles indexed in Scopus from 2019 to 2026. The analysis is performed using bibliometric methods combined with performance evaluation and scientific mapping using VOS Viewer and bibliometric tools. The results show that the research field is strongly technology-oriented, with AI concepts dominating the intellectual structure of the works, while aspects of sustainable development play only a subordinate role. Although SMEs are frequently mentioned in the publications, they appear primarily as contextual variables rather than as a structural element of the proposed mechanisms for integrating technology into sustainable development. The analysis reveals a development from fragmented structures in the early stages of research development to partial integration, characterized by increased technological innovation and a lack of alignment with the Sustainable Development Goals. The findings suggest a mechanistic theory that highlights the interplay between technological capabilities, organizational readiness, and the external environment in the development of AI-based sustainability strategies in SMEs.