Artificial intelligence in revolutionizing food encapsulation: Applications ranging from discovery to deployment

Encapsulation technology involves strategic methods that mask undesirables, preserve bioactive compounds, and control their delivery characteristics. Artificial Intelligence (AI) has the potential to transform the field, accelerating the development of smart materials and methods. This narrative review critically analyzed approximately 200 relevant articles, mostly published between 2020 and 2025. The key steps involved in the formulation of encapsulated foods from lab to market, along with the extent of AI integration at each step, are comprehensively discussed, highlighting opportunities for future enhancements. The successful commercialization of an encapsulated food product has been categorized under four stages: discovery, development, evaluation, and deployment. The fundamentals of AI and its associated tools are explained to establish a foundation for a clear understanding of AI models and their applications. Although AI has been progressively integrated into various sectors of food processing, its application to food encapsulation remains in its nascent stages. However, current research trend shows promising capabilities. Material selection, process optimization, and quality control are the major domains of research involving AI integration in food encapsulation. With more data availability and interdisciplinary collaborations between food technologists, material scientists, and AI specialists, computational complexity can be addressed, enabling customized solutions.