Smart agriculture is experiencing a revolution, fuelled by the increasing availability of artificial intelligence (AI), the Internet of Things (IoT), and big data that improve precision farming, make more efficient use of resources, enhance forecasting analytics, and facilitate sustainability practices. This review draws on credible databases and peer-reviewed studies published between 2021–2025 to synthesize recent advances showing how AI and IoT customization can enhance agricultural productivity, bolster resilience against climate variability, and pave the way for data-driven decision-making. Research activity is particularly concentrated in India, the United States, and select areas in Europe and Asia, demonstrating uneven and inequitable progress, notwithstanding global engagement and investment in the technology transition. Despite significant movement in the uptake of AI and IoT innovations, many challenges remain - namely interoperability, implementation costs, scalability, ethical data governance, and regulatory incoherence. Addressing equity and coherence issues necessitates the use and/or continual development of collaborative, interdisciplinary approaches; the establishment of appropriate governance frameworks; and the use/create farmer-centric endeavours to close the gaps between research and practice. Ultimately, the achievement of sustainable and resilient agricultural futures does not rely solely on the features of technological innovations, but rather on equitable integration of technological features and collaboration among researchers, policymakers, and other stakeholders in the implementation of agricultural innovations to achieve environmental and societal goals.