Study goals
To investigate, through a systematic literature review, how artificial intelligence has been applied in social projects, identifying approaches and impacts that contribute to reducing inequalities, strengthening vulnerable communities, and promoting more just and sustainable societies.
Relevance / originality
The article seeks to fill a gap regarding the use of AI in sustainable social projects, mapping trends and proposing a holistic assessment that integrates social, economic, and environmental dimensions, contributing to ethical practices aligned with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
Methodology / approach
A systematic literature review was conducted using data from the Scopus database (2020–2025), filtering articles in English and Portuguese. Keyword mapping in VOSviewer was used to identify patterns, trends, and four thematic clusters on AI in social projects.
Main results
The analysis identified four thematic clusters: Technologies Applied to Sustainability; Human-Centered Innovation; Decision-Making with Socioeconomic Impact; and AI Integration with Emerging Technologies, highlighting that AI has transformative potential but faces ethical challenges and a lack of consolidated indicators.
Theoretical / methodological contributions
The study systematizes the application of AI in sustainable social projects, identifying four thematic clusters and research gaps. Methodologically, it combines a systematic review, bibliometric analysis, and VOSviewer mapping, offering an integrative framework for future interdisciplinary investigations.
Social / management contributions
The study contributes socially by demonstrating how AI can reduce inequalities, strengthen vulnerable communities, and support effective public policies, proposing ethical, inclusive, and sustainable approaches that generate multidimensional and long-term value in diverse and complex social contexts.