Industry 5.0 transforms industrial ecosystems via artificial intelligence (AI), human–machine collaboration, and sustainability-focused innovations. This systematic literature review examines Industry 5.0′s role in energy transition through digital transformation, sustainable supply chains, and energy efficiency strategies. Key findings highlight AI-driven smart grids, blockchain-enabled energy transactions, and digital twin simulations as enablers of low-carbon, adaptive industrial operations. This review uniquely integrates technological, managerial, and policy perspectives, providing actionable insights for policymakers and industry leaders. Industry 5.0 enhances innovative energy management, renewable energy integration, and flexible energy distribution, strengthening resilience and sustainability. It fosters environmental responsibility, social impact, and circular economy principles, laying the foundation for a low-carbon economy and accelerating the global energy transition.

China currently adopts voluntary principles to disclose sustainable development information, and so considerable numbers of listed companies have chosen not to disclose such information. Since disclosure and non-disclosure groups face different production opportunities, this research uses the meta-frontier framework to completely analyze sustainable development practices of China’s artificial intelligence (AI) industry. Empirical results show that the disclosure group outperforms the non-disclosure group in operating scales, efficiencies, and technologies, while the superior efficiency of state-owned enterprises (SOEs) comes entirely from the non-disclosure group. Hence, the government should mandate or actively encourage capable corporations, especially SOEs, to disclose sustainable development information, as doing so improves the overall sustainable development of society and also enhances these firms’ performance. Finally, the authority can formulate a nationwide disclosure policy regardless of the existing differences in regional development.