5.1.1. Binary Counting Method
In the pursuit of unraveling the intricate themes and emerging trends within the domain of Artificial Intelligence in Advertising, a crucial step involved conducting a co-occurrence of terms analysis. This methodological approach aligns directly with the research questions posed in the study: RQ1 focuses on discerning the prominent themes and subtopics, while RQ2 seeks to identify emerging trends over recent years. The data, sourced from the Web of Science, underwent meticulous preprocessing before being uploaded to VOSViewer. Specifically, the focus was directed solely to the Title and Abstract fields, excluding structured abstract labels and copyright statements. The counting method employed was binary, with the incorporation of a thesaurus file to enhance the precision of term recognition. Setting a minimum occurrence threshold of 10 ensured the inclusion of substantive terms in the analysis. Out of a staggering 112,307 terms, 1,609 met the threshold, and a strategic selection of 965 terms, representing 60% of the most relevant, was made to refine the analysis further. Exclusions were made for terms unrelated to advertising, ensuring the final set of terms accurately captured the nuances of the advertising landscape. This carefully curated dataset was then subjected to VOS Viewer analysis, providing a robust foundation for the subsequent exploration of themes and trends in Artificial Intelligence in Advertising.
Figure 2.
Visualization of Co-occurrences of Terms (Binary).
Figure 2.
Visualization of Co-occurrences of Terms (Binary).
Table 1.
Co-occurrences of Terms Analysis (Binary) - Clustering.
Table 1.
Co-occurrences of Terms Analysis (Binary) - Clustering.
| Cluster |
Cluster Name |
Description |
| 1 (Red) |
Holistic Examination of the Interdisciplinary Landscape in AI Research |
This cluster provides a panoramic view of the interdisciplinary landscape in artificial intelligence research, showcasing the breadth and depth of topics covered. Encompassing areas such as ethics, blockchain, advertising, human life, and the potential of generative AI, it underscores the multifaceted nature of AI’s impact on various domains. |
| 2 (Green) |
Multifaceted Analysis of the Societal Impact of Social Media Data |
This cluster encapsulates a comprehensive exploration of the societal impact of social media data in the context of various significant factors. |
| 3 (Blue) |
Advanced Techniques in Natural Language Processing (NLP) and Machine Learning |
This cluster focuses on the cutting-edgetechniques and methodologies employed in natural language processing (NLP) and machine learning for analyzing textual content, particularly in the context of social media. |
| 4 (Yellow) |
AI-Powered Analysis of Online Content and Social Dynamics |
This cluster centers on the application of artificial intelligence in analyzing and understanding the dynamics of online content and social interactions. |
| 5 (Purple) |
Technological Advancements and Ethical Considerations |
This cluster delves into the intersection of technological advancements and ethical considerations within the field of artificial intelligence. |
| 6 (Sky Blue) |
Predictive Modeling and Algorithm Evaluation |
This cluster revolves around predictive modeling and algorithmic evaluation in the realm of artificial intelligence. |
| 7 (Orange) |
Knowledge Representation and Analysis Methods |
This cluster revolves around the exploration of knowledge graphs and academic perspectives within the context of artificial intelligence. |
| 8 (Brown) |
Neural Network Architecture and Learning |
This cluster encompasses discussions related to neural network architecture, learning processes, and associated challenges. |
In this comprehensive co-occurrence of terms analysis, we examined the intricate web of relationships. This analysis, encompassing 904 nodes, provides a nuanced perspective on the co-occurrence patterns within and across these clusters. The 126,902 links, with a cumulative link strength of 474,412, signify the strength and frequency of associations between terms. We employed the association strength method to underscore the significance of terms co-occurring within the same context. This academic exploration sheds light on the complex interplay and interdependencies among various domains, offering valuable insights into the interdisciplinary landscape shaped by AI research and the evolving dynamics influenced by digital platforms.
Our exploration led us to identify eight distinct clusters, each representing an aspect of this multifaceted landscape: “Holistic Examination of the Interdisciplinary Landscape in AI Research,” “Multifaceted Analysis of the Societal Impact of Social Media Data,” “Advanced Techniques in Natural Language Processing (NLP) and Machine Learning,” “AI-Powered Analysis of Online Content and Social Dynamics,” “Technological Advancements and Ethical Considerations,” “Predictive Modeling and Algorithm Evaluation,” “Knowledge Representation and Analysis Methods,” and “Neural Network Architecture and Learning.”. These clusters provide a panoramic view of the diverse facets and interconnections within the AI research landscape and underscore the intricate relationship between AI and the societal dynamics influenced by digital platforms’ data. In this regard, AI is evolving in the aspect of machine learning. The most significant cluster, Holistic Examination of the Interdisciplinary Landscape in AI Research, shows the intricate details of AI being heavily developed throughout the years and how it is spread through areas of our lives. This is then followed by clusters that show how AI is evolving in a multifaceted approach. Its evolution includes generative models, advanced techniques in NLP, predictive modeling, deep learning, neural network architectures, and more. While these concepts are present in other industries, their application in advertising is more present today.
In the exploration of the interdisciplinary landscape in AI research, the co-occurrence analysis illuminates crucial insights shown in
Table 2. “Learning” emerges as the term with the highest degree of centrality, reflecting its integral role in the field of Artificial Intelligence in Advertising. This suggests a prevailing emphasis on the development and application of learning methodologies within advertising-focused AI research. The prominence of “learning” in this visualization is unsurprising, as it inherently ties into the core concept of artificial intelligence as discussed in the literature review. It encompasses a multifaceted phenomenon, encompassing the acquisition of new knowledge, development of motor and cognitive skills through practice and guidance, organization of information, constructive representation, and the discovery of new data and theories through experiments and observations. Since the advent of the computer age, significant efforts have been dedicated to integrating learning into machines. This endeavor gave rise to the complex realm of artificial intelligence, coevolving with the field of machine learning [
35]. The interconnectedness of terms like “accuracy,” “dataset,” and “text” signifies their pivotal roles, potentially pointing towards the core components shaping the discourse in this domain. These findings directly contribute to answering RQ1 by uncovering the prevalent themes and subtopics that define the landscape of Artificial Intelligence in Advertising.
The betweenness centrality metric sheds light on the critical terms that act as bridges or connectors within the network. In this analysis, “learning,” “dataset,” and “accuracy” emerge as pivotal concepts, indicating their intermediary roles in connecting various themes and subtopics within the field of Artificial Intelligence in Advertising. This suggests that these terms play a crucial role in facilitating communication and knowledge flow across different dimensions of AI research in advertising.
Closeness centrality, on the other hand, emphasizes the proximity of a term to other terms in the network. “Accuracy,” “dataset,” and “text” exhibit high closeness centrality, indicating their close associations with other key terms. This suggests that these terms are not only central within their immediate thematic clusters but also maintain close connections with other important concepts, potentially serving as core components that contribute to a cohesive knowledge structure.
The strength of ties, represented by link strength, signifies the intensity of connections between terms. “Learning” and “accuracy” exhibit strong ties, underlining their frequent co-occurrence and interconnectedness. This emphasizes the robust relationships between these terms, suggesting a strong thematic coherence within the AI in the advertising domain.
Finally, the occurrences metric highlights the frequency of each term within the dataset. “Learning,” “accuracy,” and “dataset” stand out with the highest occurrences, indicating their prevalence in the literature and emphasizing their foundational roles in AI research for advertising applications.
Delving deeper, the analysis also provides a lens into potential emerging trends and topics within this field (RQ2). The prominence of specific terms and their interconnections can signal evolving areas of focus and innovation. For instance, if terms related to emerging technologies or novel approaches exhibit increased centrality, it could signify the emergence of new trends in AI applications for advertising. This adds a temporal dimension to the study, helping to discern shifts and developments over the past few years.
Centering on the core topic of this paper, we directed my attention towards the node representing “artificial intelligence” and “advertising,” aiming to gain insights into its immediate connections. The visualization in
Figure 3 vividly illustrates the robust associations between artificial intelligence, advertising, and key concepts like “learning,” “neural networks,” and “data.” These connections underpin the intricate interplay between these vital elements within generative artificial intelligence in advertising.
In
Table 3, the recent terms in AI research shed light on an evolving landscape, mirroring the community’s focus on cutting-edge technologies and methodologies. Positioned at the forefront, “ChatGPT” signifies the current interest in advancing conversational AI, likely with a focus on enhancing dialogue generation capabilities. This aligns with the broader trend observed in the prominence of “bidirectional,” indicating a continued exploration of models like BERT that comprehend context in both directions, contributing to more nuanced natural language understanding. The term “generative AI” underscores a collective pursuit of AI systems capable of creative content generation, reflecting an interest in pushing the boundaries of AI applications.
Moreover, the inclusion of “explainability” underscores the growing concern for interpreting AI model decisions, addressing ethical dimensions in AI research. “Knowledge graph” and “count vectorizer” signify a sustained commitment to refining the representation and organization of information, showcasing a continuous effort to enhance the foundational aspects of natural language processing. Lastly, “technological advancement” serves as a comprehensive term, capturing the overarching theme of progress and innovation in the AI field. This highlights the community’s awareness of and active engagement with the dynamic nature of AI technologies, providing a comprehensive snapshot of the current trends and priorities in AI research.
5.1.2. Full Counting Method
In this section, we conducted an in-depth co-occurrence analysis using the full counting method, leveraging the dataset sourced from Web of Science that was also utilized for binary counting. Employing the powerful VOS Viewer tool, we refined our analysis parameters to enhance precision. Focusing on the Title and Abstract fields, we deliberately excluded structured abstract labels and disregarded copyright statements. Employing a minimum occurrence threshold of 10, we meticulously filtered an extensive dataset of 112,562 terms down to 2,477, ensuring that our subsequent analysis centered on terms with substantive frequency.
To further refine our exploration, we incorporated thesaurus filtering, augmenting the relevance of the identified terms. The subsequent step involved selecting the top 60% of the most relevant terms, concentrating on the most significant aspects of the dataset. Employing VOS Viewer, we visualized co-occurrence patterns among the refined terms, excluding those not directly aligned with the research focus. The excluded terms spanned diverse topics, including specific diseases and broader subjects like climate change. This curation resulted in a refined dataset of 1,486 terms for co-occurrence analysis.
Figure 4 provides a visual representation of the interconnected thematic landscape within the field of Artificial Intelligence in Advertising, illuminating the intricate relationships among the identified terms. Notably, the analysis revealed 1373 nodes, distributed across 10 clusters, forming 150,955 links with a total link strength of 772,553. These metrics underscore the complexity and interconnectedness of the identified themes, offering valuable insights into the interdisciplinary landscape of Artificial Intelligence in Advertising.
Figure 4.
Co-occurrence Analysis of Terms (Full Counting) Visualization.
Figure 4.
Co-occurrence Analysis of Terms (Full Counting) Visualization.
Table 4.
Co-occurrences of Terms Analysis (Full Counting) - Clustering.
Table 4.
Co-occurrences of Terms Analysis (Full Counting) - Clustering.
| Cluster |
Cluster Name |
Description |
| 1 (Red) |
AI-Enhanced Advertising Ecosystem |
The cluster, with its diverse set of terms, provides insights into the multifaceted intersection of AI and advertising, serving as a valuable resource for researchers and practitioners seeking a holistic understanding of the AI-driven advertising ecosystem. |
| 2 (Green) |
Enhanced Sentiment and Misinformation Classification in social media |
This cluster aims to contribute significantly to the discourse surrounding sentiment dynamics and misinformation detection in social media contexts relevant to advertising and AI applications. |
| 3 (Blue) |
Comprehensive Exploration of Mental Health and Societal Dynamics |
This cluster provides a rich exploration of mental health dynamics within the context of societal influences and online discourse, contributing valuable insights for AI applications in advertising addressing mental health-related issues. |
| 4 (Yellow) |
Surveillance and Methodological Insights in Health Communication |
This cluster offers a comprehensive examination of the evolving landscape of health communication, providing methodological insights and technological approaches relevant to AI applications in advertising within the health domain. |
| 5 (Purple) |
Deception Detection and Computational Modeling in NLP |
This cluster provides a nuanced view of the intricate techniques and methodologies employed in NLP for deception detection and computational modeling. |
| 6 (Sky Blue) |
Music Consumption and Neuroscientific Insights |
This cluster signifies a comprehensive examination of the intricate relationships between music, consumer identity, and neuroscientific aspects, offering valuable insights for advertisers in the music industry. |
| 7 (Orange) |
Knowledge and Social Impact in Tourism |
This cluster reflects a multidimensional examination of AI’s contributions to knowledge, societal influences, and their implications for the tourism industry in the realm of advertising. |
| 8 (Brown) |
AI’s Response to the Global Pandemic |
The cluster implies a nuanced examination of how AI technologies can assist in managing and mitigating the consequences of a pandemic on a global scale, reflecting the interdisciplinary nature of AI applications in advertising during extraordinary circumstances. |
| 9 (Pink) |
Financial Impact and Social Awareness |
This cohesive grouping implies an exploration of how AI can be a valuable tool for financial predictions and simultaneously contribute to socially impactful advertising initiatives, reflecting the diverse applications of AI technologies in advertising. |
| 10 (Coral) |
Appearance |
This cluster likely encapsulates discussions related to the visual elements, aesthetics, and overall presentation of content in advertising campaigns. |
In conducting our co-occurrence analysis, we employed clustering technique to distill a vast array of terms into cohesive clusters, allowing for a more nuanced exploration of the interdisciplinary landscape within AI research, particularly in the context of advertising. Clustering, as a methodological approach, enables the identification of cohesive groups of terms, shedding light on the underlying themes, relationships, and emergent patterns within the extensive dataset. By categorizing related terms into clusters, we can unravel the intricate connections between various concepts, facilitating a comprehensive understanding of the multifaceted dimensions that characterize the evolving field of AI in advertising. This systematic approach not only aids in discerning prevalent trends but also contributes to the interpretation of the complex interplay between technological advancements, ethical considerations, and user-centric approaches in the realm of AI-enhanced advertising.
The largest and most relevant cluster in our co-occurrence analysis, aptly titled “AI-Enhanced Advertising Ecosystem,” encapsulates the dynamic fusion of artificial intelligence (AI) technologies with the intricate landscape of advertising practices. This expansive cluster not only incorporates cutting-edge AI methodologies such as “learning algorithm” and “convolutional neural network,” indicating the integration of machine learning and deep learning techniques, but also delves into crucial ethical considerations with terms like “attack,” “blockchain,” and “protection.” The multifaceted nature of this cluster extends to user-centric elements, evident in terms such as “customer,” “satisfaction,” and “recommender system,” emphasizing the role of AI in tailoring advertising content to individual preferences. Moreover, the cluster reflects the evolution of advertising strategies with terms like “computational advertising,” “search advertising,” and “contextual advertising,” highlighting the role of AI in targeted and personalized advertising. Beyond traditional boundaries, terms like “IoT,” “smart city,” and “autonomous vehicle” underscore the pervasive influence of AI applications in shaping not only advertising ecosystems but also broader aspects of technology and society.
In relation to our research questions, this dominant cluster provides valuable insights into the prominent themes and emerging trends within the field of AI in advertising (RQ1 and RQ2). The prevalence of terms related to technological advancements, ethical considerations, and user-centric approaches aligns with the overarching trajectory of Generative AI within the advertising domain (RQ4 and RQ5). The cluster’s sheer size and relevance underscore its significance, serving as a focal point for understanding the intricate dynamics of AI-driven advertising and providing a foundation for future research endeavors in this rapidly evolving field.
Figure 5.
Nodes Tied to Advertising & Artificial Intelligence Visualization (Full Counting).
Figure 5.
Nodes Tied to Advertising & Artificial Intelligence Visualization (Full Counting).
The connections stemming from the advertising and artificial intelligence clusters exhibit a discernible focus on critical elements pivotal to the field. Deep learning, an advanced machine learning technique, emerges as a prominent node, underscoring its critical role in integrating AI within advertising. This suggests a concerted effort to harness the potential of deep learning algorithms in crafting innovative advertising strategies. Neural networks, a foundational concept in artificial intelligence, are also strongly linked, indicating their relevance in the context of advertising. Language, another recurrent theme, highlights the significance of natural language processing for tasks like sentiment analysis or content generation. Twitter features prominently, implying a specific interest in leveraging this platform for advertising endeavors, which aligns with Twitter’s real-time nature and widespread reach. As a node, media points to the diverse forms of media content being explored, indicating a multi-modal approach to advertising strategies. Including terms like “pieces of evidence” suggests a rigorous approach to experimentation and validation, emphasizing the empirical foundation of the research. These connections elucidate a comprehensive approach to integrating artificial intelligence into advertising, encompassing advanced algorithms, linguistic analysis, and strategic utilization of social media platforms. This signifies a nuanced and forward-looking approach to applying Generative AI in the advertising domain.
In
Table 5, Results from running the data in VOS Viewer and NodeXL are shown. The degree of centrality, as evidenced by the prominence of terms such as “technology,” “tweet,” and “knowledge,” reveals the pivotal role of technological advancements and social media discourse in the interdisciplinary landscape of AI research. The high degree centrality of “technology” underscores the fundamental importance of cutting-edge tools and methodologies within the field, indicative of a strong emphasis on innovation and progress. Simultaneously, the prevalence of terms like “tweet” and “sentiment” suggests a significant focus on social media dynamics, highlighting the integral role of user-generated content and sentiment analysis in the context of AI applications.
Examining betweenness centrality, “technology” and “tweet” again emerge as central nodes, showcasing their critical bridging role in connecting various thematic clusters. This aligns with the overarching theme of the intersection between technology and social discourse, emphasizing the influential position of these terms in mediating interactions within the broader AI research landscape. Furthermore, the inclusion of terms like “advertising” and “advertisement” in the betweenness centrality metrics points towards the interconnectedness of AI with the advertising domain, substantiating the relevance of our study in understanding the symbiotic relationship between these realms.
Closeness centrality reinforces the significance of “technology” and “tweet,” emphasizing their proximity to other terms within the network. This proximity signifies their integral position, serving as central hubs that facilitate efficient information flow and connectivity. The presence of “sentiment” and “word” in the closeness centrality metrics indicates the interconnected nature of language, sentiment analysis, and word usage, suggesting a rich interplay of linguistic elements within the AI landscape.
Analyzing tie strength, the prominence of “tweet” and “coronavirus” underscores the intersection between AI, social media, and real-world events. The strength of ties in these areas suggests a heightened focus on leveraging AI for analyzing sentiments, opinions, and information dissemination, particularly in the context of significant global events such as the COVID-19 pandemic. The substantial tie strength associated with “sentiment analysis” and “technology” further emphasizes the synergy between linguistic analysis and technological advancements, portraying a landscape where AI is harnessed for understanding and interpreting user sentiments in various applications.
The total link strength, which represents the cumulative strength of connections between terms, aligns with the prominence of “tweet,” “sentiment,” and “technology.” This cumulative strength underscores the collective influence and interdependence of these terms, highlighting their integral role in shaping the discourse and directions within the AI research landscape.
In terms of occurrences, the frequency of “tweet” and “sentiment” indicates a sustained scholarly interest in understanding and utilizing social media content for AI applications. The high occurrences of these terms suggest a continuous exploration of the role of user-generated content and sentiment analysis in the development and implementation of AI models. The consistent presence of “advertising” and “artificial intelligence” in occurrences aligns with the overarching theme of this study, emphasizing the persistent relevance of AI in advertising and the ongoing exploration of its multifaceted applications.
The centrality and tie strength metrics collectively reveal a landscape where technology, social media, sentiment analysis, and advertising coalesce, emphasizing the interconnected and influential role of these elements within the broader AI research domain. The high occurrences of relevant terms further highlight the sustained scholarly interest and ongoing exploration of these themes in the academic discourse. These findings significantly contribute to our understanding of the interdisciplinary nature of AI research, particularly in the context of advertising applications.
Table 6.
Co-occurrences of Terms Analysis (Full Counting) – Publication Years.
Table 6.
Co-occurrences of Terms Analysis (Full Counting) – Publication Years.
| Publication Years |
| Terms |
Years |
| tcim |
2022 |
| neurosurgery awareness month |
2022 |
| palliative care |
2021 |
| indirect appeal |
2021 |
| self competence |
2021 |
| cpss |
2021 |
| mgc |
2021 |
| ipv |
2021 |
| common theme |
2021 |
| bpa |
2021 |
The co-occurrence analysis of terms, each accompanied by its respective publication year, offers valuable insights into the thematic landscape of scholarly works. Notably, the term “tcim” also known as Traditional, Complementary and Integrative Medicines (TCIM) surfaces in the most recent publications of 2022, indicating its contemporaneity within academic dialogues. While the acronym remains undefined in this context, its recurrence suggests an emerging or focal concept in recent research endeavors.
The term “neurosurgery awareness month” appearing twice in 2022 may signify an increased scholarly attention to initiatives dedicated to raising awareness about neurosurgery, possibly implicating evolving perspectives in healthcare communication or public health campaigns. Delving into the acronym-laden entries, “CPSS,” “MGC,” and “IPV,” identified within the publications of 2021, warrant further scrutiny to elucidate their specific domain relevance and contributions to the scholarly discourse.
Furthermore, the appearance of terms such as “indirect appeal” and “self-competence” in 2021 implies an enduring interest in psychological and persuasive dimensions within communication studies, particularly relevant in the context of advertising discourse. The acronym “BPA” in 2021 may pertain to Bisphenol A, a compound associated with plastics, potentially indicating a confluence of environmental and health-related considerations within the broader scope of the research.
This meticulous examination of co-occurring terms and their respective publication years lays the groundwork for a nuanced exploration of contemporary academic inquiries, offering a glimpse into evolving thematic trends and potential intersections within the dynamic landscape of scholarly research.