Ecological and nutritional analysis of artificial intelligence-based sustainable dietary models

Growing concerns over environmental sustainability and health have increased the demand for sustainable diets. Advances in artificial intelligence (AI) offer new opportunities for diet planning. Evaluating the nutritional adequacy and environmental impact of AI-generated sustainable diets is essential. This study aimed to compare the nutritional quality and ecological footprints of sustainable diets created by four popular AI tools (Gemini, Copilot, ChatGPT, and Grok). Each AI tool generated a sustainable diet plan for a healthy adult woman. Diets were evaluated for energy, nutrient content, antioxidant capacity, glycemic index, protein quality, fatty acid profiles, Healthy Eating Index-2015 scores, and ecological footprints. All diets showed low ecological footprints but did not meet energy targets (1800 kcal/day). Gemini had the most sustainable composition. Vitamin B 12 was consistently below recommended levels in diets from Gemini, Copilot, and ChatGPT. All diets had adequate carbohydrate, protein, fat quality, and overall diet quality. Carbon footprint associated with protein, energy from protein, cholesterol, pyridoxine, folate, and vitamin C. Water footprint was linked to multiple nutrients, and fruits, meat, poultry, and fish; vegetable intake correlated with carbon footprint. AI-assisted diets have potential for sustainability but nutritional completeness concerns remain, especially for vulnerable groups. Further studies comparing AI and dietitian plans are needed to assess long-term effects. • All AI-generated diets met sustainability criteria through low ecological footprints but failed to reach the target energy. • The diet created by Copilot exhibited the lowest carbon and water footprints across the majority of meals. • Vitamin B 12 levels were consistently below recommended values in the diets planned by Gemini, Copilot, and ChatGPT. • Carbon footprint was linked to protein, cholesterol, vitamins B 6 /B 9 /C and vegetable intake. • Total water footprint correlated with energy, protein, B vitamins, omega-3, and amounts of fruit, meat, poultry and fish.