The Functional Mechanisms through Which Artificial Intelligence Influences the Innovation of Green Processes of Enterprises

Green process innovation is an important strategy in the high-quality development of enterprises. Digital technology is becoming a key factor in helping businesses address environmental issues and contributes to their green process innovation and sustainable growth. Nevertheless, there is a lack of studies on how particular digital technology categories affect corporate green process innovation. Artificial intelligence (AI) is an important part of digitalization as it can provide new technical means and guidance for enterprise’s innovation of green processes. This study aims to fills this research gap by revealing the logical relationship between digital technology and the green development of enterprises. Using China’s A-share-listed companies as the research object from 2013 to 2022, this study employed a two-way fixed-effects model and investigated the impact of artificial intelligence (AI) on corporate green process innovation and the moderating effect of multidimensional intellectual capital. The results revealed that AI positively impacts corporate green process innovation. Human capital, structural capital, employed capital, and relational capital strengthen this positive effect. Robustness tests validated these conclusions. This study expands the literature on digital technology and corporate green innovation and provides a reference for enterprises to implement green practices using digital technology.