Artificial intelligence and digital trust: a comparative bibliometric analysis of e-reputation research in scopus and web of science (2015-2025)

Abstract

In the Digital Age, artificial intelligence, consumer trust and e-reputation are the focus of the factors determining an organization's competitiveness and brand equity. However, there is still no synthesis on a large number of major of indexing tools that relates technological infrastructure, perceptions and consumer behavior. This paper analyzes the evolution of studies on AI, e-reputation and consumer trust from 2015 to 2025 with comparative bibliometric design on Scopus (n = 541) and Web of Science (n = 293).

This analysis tracks publication volume by year, measuring prolific authors, publication sources, international co-authorship and keyword co-occurrence clusters. Results show that Scopus is a technological radar focusing on applied algorithms, blockchain verification and machine learning. Web of Science is a filter consolidating theory-driven economic concept, consumer behavior, brand management and relational trust. Consumer trust is the one common bridge that links technological reliability with behavioral commitment. In the end, this study offers a unified multi-theoretical lens (Signaling Theory, the Technology Acceptance Model and Multi-Dimensional Trust Theory) to reconcile algorithmic control and relational trust management.