Integrating artificial intelligence into regional technological domains: the role of intra- and extra-regional AI relatedness

Abstract Artificial intelligence (AI) is a key driver of the Fourth Industrial Revolution. Despite growing interest in the geography of AI, our understanding of how AI integrates into regional contexts remains limited. In response, we examine the integration of AI into regional technological domains in China using patent data. Theoretically, we develop a framework by introducing the concepts of intra- and extra-regional AI relatedness. Our findings reveal that the integration of AI into regional technological domains is positively associated with both intra-regional and extra-regional AI relatedness. Additionally, extra-regional AI relatedness can moderate the lack of intra-regional AI relatedness. Finally, we use the USA as a robustness check, which further validates our findings.