Generative Artificial Intelligence and the Creative Industries: A Bibliometric Review and Research Agenda

Generative artificial intelligence (GenAI) is increasingly transforming creative industries through its ability to generate high-quality content, raising critical questions about authorship, ownership, and the future of creative labor. This paper addresses these challenges by conducting a systematic bibliometric review of 119 peer-reviewed articles on GenAI in the creative sectors, published between 2023 and 2025. The study applies PRISMA 2020 guidelines and keyword co-occurrence analysis using VOSviewer to identify thematic clusters and map research trends. The central research question is how the academic literature conceptualizes the role and impact of GenAI within creative industries and how this has evolved over time. Findings reveal nine major thematic areas, ranging from technical implementations to ethical, economic, and institutional perspectives. The analysis shows that recent research emphasizes not only the technological capacities of GenAI, but also its implications for value creation, creative agency, and industry structures. The main contribution of the paper lies in offering a structured overview of current research trajectories, clarifying conceptual ambiguities, and highlighting understudied areas—particularly regarding the intersection of GenAI, platform economies, and labor dynamics. The review also identifies a methodological gap in comparative empirical studies and proposes directions for future research. By mapping the evolving discourse on GenAI in creative industries, this study contributes to both scholarly understanding and policy development. It provides a foundation for interdisciplinary inquiry and a forward-looking agenda for critically assessing GenAI’s role in reshaping creative work.