While global attention to zero-energy building (ZEB) has surged as a sustainable countermeasure to high-energy consumption, a congruent expansion in research remains conspicuously absent. Addressing this lacuna, our study harnesses public research and development grant data to decipher evolving trajectories within ZEB research. Distinctively departing from conventional methodologies, we employ state-of-the-art natural language processing (NLP) artificial intelligence models to meticulously analyze grant textual content pertinent to ZEB. Our findings illuminate an expansive spectrum of ZEB-related research, with a pronounced focus on the holistic continuum of energy supply, demand, distribution, and actualization within architectural confines. Theoretically, this work delineates key avenues ripe for future empirical exploration, fostering a robust academic foundation for subsequent ZEB inquiries. Practically, the insights derived bear significant implications for practitioners, informing optimal implementation strategies, and offering policymakers coherent roadmaps for sustainable urban development. Collectively, this study affords a panoramic perspective on contemporary ZEB research contours, enhancing both scholarly comprehension and practical enactment in this pivotal domain.