Chatbots have become a pivotal technology in business and management. Despite their growing adoption, existing research on chatbots is diverse and fragmented, lacking a cohesive overview of the field’s development and emerging trends. This study aims to answer the core research question: “What are the major research patterns, influential contributors, and emerging themes in chatbot-related literature within business and management between 2018 and 2024?” To address this, a structured four-step bibliometric methodology was applied to systematically collect, screen, and analyze relevant literature. A total of 331 peer-reviewed journal articles published between 2018 and 2024 were retrieved from the Web of Science database. Bibliometric and metadata analyses were conducted using CiteSpace software, including keyword co-occurrence, co-citation, and collaboration network visualizations. The findings show a steady rise in chatbot publications, with the highest output in 2023 (88 articles) and 2024 (85 articles). Prolific authors include Mou Jian, Lova Rajaobelina, and Xueming Luo, while top institutions are the University System of Ohio and the Indian Institute of Management. Core themes include AI, customer service, trust, and consumer experience, with emerging topics such as large language models and service quality. Influential cited works focus on anthropomorphism, technology acceptance, and generative AI. This study provides quantitative insights into the evolution of chatbot research, highlights key contributors and trends, and offers practical implications for improving chatbot design and adoption in business contexts.