Environmental　engineering　is　confronted　with　new　challenges　and　prospects.　It　necessitates　a　shift　in　the　paradigm　of　scientific　research,　and　transcending　the　disciplinary　confinement　of　end-management　as　the　primary　objective.　This　shift　is　crucial　for　enabling　environmental　engineering　to　play　a　more　pivotal　role　in　addressing　global　ecological　and　environmental　challenges.　On　the　other　hand,　artificial　intelligence　(AI)　stands　as　one　of　today＇s　innovative　technologies,　with　its　application　in　environmental　engineering　marking　a　pivotal　direction　for　future　innovation.　This　study　employed　bibliometric　methods　to　sift　through　an　extensive　collection　of　over　24　000　papers　related　to　AI　and　environmental　engineering,　spanning　from　1990　to　2023.　It　analyzed　the　prominent　institutions　globally　involved　in　this　field,　illustrated　the　current　research　directions　of　AI　in　environmental　engineering,　and　discussed　the　evolution　and　future　trends　of　research　hotspots.　Additionally,　the　potential　challenges　were　also　raised.　Consequently,　this　study　aims　to　provide　suggestions　and　insights　for　the　research　and　development　of　AI　in　environmental　engineering,　facilitating　the　rapid　advancement　of　China＇s　environmental　engineering　disciplines.　©　2024　Science　Press.　All　rights　reserved.