The Impact of Artificial Intelligence on Corporate Strategic Decision-Making: Convergence or Differentiation?

The application of artificial intelligence (AI) is reshaping the strategic decision-making patterns of enterprises. To clarify the influence mechanism of AI on corporate strategic decision-making, to elucidate the mechanisms through which AI influences corporate strategic decision-making, this study uses Chinese A-share listed companies from 2013 to 2023 as a sample to empirically examine the impact of AI on strategic decision-making. The research finds that AI application significantly increases the overall strategic deviance of enterprises, supporting the "differentiation effect" hypothesis. Sub-dimensional tests show that AI drives enterprises to significantly deviate from industry norms in advertising investment, R&D intensity, and fixed asset renewal, demonstrating characteristics of "active innovation"; while in the dimensions of capital intensity and financial leverage, enterprises tend to approach industry averages, reflecting a "rational contraction" tendency. This study provides a theoretical basis for understanding the strategic value of AI and offers practical insights for enterprises to optimize their technology application paths.