Research Status of International Sports Artificial Intelligence: Visualization Analysis Based on the WoS Database

Abstract

Artificial intelligence (AI) technology is reshaping research paradigms and industrial practices in sports science. However, current research in sports AI exhibits fragmentation, lacks systematic interdisciplinary integration and theoretical development, and suffers from insufficient macro-level analysis of international research networks, hotspot distributions, and developmental trends. To address this gap, this study screened 1,079 papers from the Web of Science database (2015–2024). It employed VOS Viewer for multidimensional visualization analysis, including keyword co-occurrence, journal preference, and country distribution. The research aims to systematically reveal the current state of the research landscape and emerging trends in this field. Findings indicate: (1) A pronounced technology-driven trajectory, with core keywords centered on "machine learning" and "deep learning," and application scenarios concentrated in football tactical analysis, health management, and personalized training optimization; (2) Engineering and technology journals account for over 50% of published literature, while sports science journals represent only 14.64%, indicating lagging interdisciplinary theoretical integration; (3) China holds a dominant position with 43.095% of published articles, followed by the United States (13%). Policy-driven effects are particularly pronounced in Asian countries. The study indicates that sports AI research exhibits characteristics of technology dominance and disciplinary imbalance. Therefore, efforts should be strengthened to enhance interdisciplinary integration and address humanistic and ethical concerns, promote technological standardization and cultural adaptability, and achieve a dynamic equilibrium between "technological empowerment" and "humanistic value." Future efforts should focus on expanding multilingual data sources, establishing global collaboration mechanisms, and advancing AI applications in physical education, performance enhancement, and health management. This will ultimately foster the co-development of sports science and technology alongside human progress.

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