Temporal Dynamics of Academic Research and Public Attention toward Generative AI in Fashion Design: A Bibliometric and Baidu Index Study

Abstract

Generative AI has moved quickly into fashion design since 2022, yet how this diffusion plays out across academic and public spheres has received little empirical attention. We analyzed 855 Web of Science publications (2014 to 2025) alongside Baidu Index search data from the Chinese market. The bibliometric record falls into three phases: algorithmic exploration, application development, and scenario empowerment. A qualitative comparison of the two time series shows that the lag between growth in public search interest and growth in academic output appears to have narrowed from roughly 18 to 24 months before 2020 to about 6 to 12 months after 2022, suggesting that the two domains are becoming more closely coupled. Formal causal testing is needed to confirm the direction of influence.