From Automation to Collaboration: A Systematic Review of AI Use in Assessment Across Critical Infrastructure Sectors

Assessments are used to help gather and analyze information to inform processes and outcomes and are rapidly being reshaped by AI. This systematic review investigates where, why, and when AI is used across the assessment life-cycle and further considers its core functions, design elements, and the ways users engage with them Thirty-eight peer-reviewed studies met our inclusion criteria, each embedding artificial intelligence directly into the assessment process. Together, government facilities and healthcare settings accounted for more than 70% of all documented use cases. Across sectors, the prevailing role of AI was that of a digital assistant, streamlining knowledge capture and evaluation supporting assessment in its role as an expert with a focus on goal-oriented collaboration. These patterns illuminate both the breadth of adoption and the potential of AI as an augmentative partner, offering a roadmap for future assessment design and research.