Uncovering Research Trends: A Textual Analysis of AI Applications in Circular Economy under an Industry 5.0 Paradigm

This study explores the intersection of artificial intelligence (AI), circular economy (CE), and Industry 5.0 (I5.0) by analyzing research trends through a text-based examination of the titles, keywords, and abstracts of 422 scholarly articles indexed in the Web of Science database. Using advanced text mining and natural language processing techniques, we identify dominant themes, emerging topics, and critical gaps in literature. The analysis highlights key applications of AI to improve CE practices, such as supply chain resilience, waste management, and sustainable manufacturing, within the human-centered and sustainable framework of I5.0. Key findings include the growing importance of Industry 4.0 and big data analytics as research hotspots, as well as the integration of AI-driven technologies into CE innovations. This research contributes to the understanding of how AI integrates with CE and I5.0, and provides valuable insights for researchers, policymakers, and practitioners aiming to promote sustainable and resilient industrial transformations.