AI Integration in Wearable Smart Textiles Experiences Exponential Growth, Study Reveals
A comprehensive bibliometric study, published in Fashion and Textiles, indicates that the integration of artificial intelligence (AI) with wearable smart textiles has entered a phase of rapid, exponential growth. The investigation, which analyzed global literature from 2000 to 2025, shows a significant transformation of conventional fabrics into active, intelligent terminals capable of sensing, responding, and adapting to environmental conditions and human kinetics. Research output in this field has surged from 80 total papers in 2019 to 567 verified publications by mid-2025, closely following an exponential growth model. This academic expansion mirrors broader industry trends, with the global smart textiles sector projected to grow from $2.8 billion in 2022 to over $24.84 billion by 2030. The study highlights current research frontiers, including deep collaboration between flexible sensors and machine learning algorithms for real-time kinematic analysis, optimization of high-performance nanomaterials, sel...