From Smart Workplaces to Human-Centered AI: A Comprehensive Review of Artificial Intelligence and Ergonomics Integration

Abstract

The increasing integration of artificial intelligence (AI) into workplace systems presents both opportunities and challenges for advancing ergonomics. The literature address how AI can be harmonized with ergonomic principles to enhance workplace design, safety, and human well-being. This gap underscores the need for a systematic synthesis of research on AI-driven ergonomic applications. The study aims to (i) analyze the existing body of research on AI-driven ergonomic applications, (ii) construct a conceptual map capturing the intersections of human, technological, and organizational factors, (iii) identify the contributions of key topic experts, and (iv) synthesize emerging themes that define future directions.
A comprehensive review was conducted using Scopus AI (25 September 2025). The method involved retrieving and analyzing relevant documents through search strings incorporating terms related to AI, ergonomics, workplace design, and integration. Scopus AI tools such as Summary, Expanded Summary, Concept Map, Topic Experts, and Emerging Themes were applied to identify patterns in research productivity, thematic structures, and knowledge gaps.
The findings reveal that AI integration with ergonomics has yielded applications across diverse sectors, including workplace health and safety, smart manufacturing, automotive design, and fashion manufacturing. Consistent themes such as AI in smart manufacturing, human-AI collaboration, and AI in human resource management highlight ongoing advancements, while rising themes such as AI-powered wearable technology, occupational health and safety, and smart building systems indicate new frontiers. Challenges related to ethics, data privacy, workforce readiness, and organizational resistance were also identified.
The study provides both theoretical and practical implications. Theoretically, it expands ergonomic discourse by situating it within human-centered AI frameworks, while practically, it offers insights for organizations seeking to implement AI solutions responsibly. These findings highlight the transformative potential of AI-driven ergonomics while emphasizing the need for ethical, sustainable, and user-centered integration.