Artificial Intelligence and Enterprise Green Innovation: Evidence from a Quasi-Natural Experiment in China

Against the backdrop of addressing global climate change, whether the new generation of information technology, centered on artificial intelligence (AI), can promote comprehensive green transformation and achieve the “dual carbon” goal has become an important issue in China’s national development strategy. The research objective of this paper is to explore the causal relationship between AI and green innovation (GI). In this study, we conduct a quasi-natural experiment using the National New Generation Artificial Intelligence Innovation and Development Pilot Zone (NAIPZ). On the basis of data from A-share-listed companies from 2013 to 2022, we use a staggered difference-in-difference model to study the impact and mechanism of AI on corporate GI. Research results show that AI can improve the GI of enterprises. Mechanism analysis results show that AI promotes GI in enterprises by improving internal governance and optimizing human capital, while industry competition can increase the promotion effect of AI on GI. Heterogeneity analysis results indicate that the promotion effect of AI on GI is particularly prominent in the eastern region, high-tech industries, and non-state-owned enterprises. This study addresses the important question of whether the NAIPZ can promote GI in enterprises, thereby providing empirical evidence and policy references for accelerating the integration and development of AI and GI in China.