The influence of the coupling and coordination between artificial intelligence and digital government construction on green economic efficiency

This study analyzes cross-sectional time-series data of 276 prefecture-level Chinese cities for the period 2012–2022. It employs the coupling coordination degree, dynamic spatial models, and threshold models to investigate the coupled and coordinated development (CCD) level between artificial intelligence (AI) and digital government construction (DGC), further, it examines the AI–DGC CCD’s impact on green economic efficiency (GEE). This study reveals that a coupling and coordination mechanism exists between AI and DGC. The AI–DGC CCD enhances local GEE by facilitating industrial structure upgrading and ecosystem resilience, while exerting a nonlinear inverted U-shaped spatial spillover effect on neighboring regions, as confirmed by multiple robustness tests. Heterogeneity analysis demonstrates that the AI–DGC CCD’s impact on GEE is more pronounced in non-resource-dependent cities, as well as those with high levels of digital economy, stringent environmental regulations, and robust intellectual-property protection. Additionally, the AI–DGC CCD’s influence on GEE exhibits a threshold effect based on public environmental concern.