Integrating artificial intelligence (AI) stands out as the most dynamic and innovative breakthrough in introducing disruptive paths in the varied domains of education. This bibliometric analysis delved into the trajectory of AI's evolving landscape within educational settings over two decades, encompassing 324 articles published from 2003 to 2023, sourced from the Scopus database. The study uncovers a substantial surge in publications with a steep increase from 2020, peaking in 2023. Notably, while established nations like China and the US lead in publications, notable contributions from other developing countries, including Saudi Arabia, India, and Malaysia, underscored a global shift. Key terms, including students, machine learning, AI and higher education, underpin the central focus research areas while emerging themes like "generative AI" and chatbots like "chatGPT" mark the evolving trends. Further, the study prompts sustained global partnerships, interdisciplinary collaborations, and continued exploration of emerging AI technologies to catalyze educational advancements.