Over-reliance on technology raises concerns: exploring the effect of industrial robot application on high-quality innovation

Purpose Firms' innovation and technological advancement are intensely associated. However, as research into intelligent technologies deepens, the relationship between industrial robot applications and high-quality innovation has become more controversial. Understanding negative attitudes toward industrial robots is crucial for driving the development of intelligent technologies. Therefore, from a practical perspective, identifying the optimal focal point between industrial robot application and high-quality innovation is particularly significant. Design/methodology/approach This study adopted the entropy value approach to construct an indicator of innovation in high-quality firms using a sample of Chinese A-share listed firms from 2007 to 2022. We thoroughly explore how industrial robot applications specifically affect high-quality innovation. Findings This study investigated how industrial robot applications impact firms' high-quality innovation and found an optimal innovation point between the two. Specifically, as the extent and frequency of industrial robot use increase, firms' high-quality innovation exhibits a nonlinear evolutionary trend: it first increases and then decreases. Originality/value This study shows that the “double-edged sword” role of firm resilience in high-quality innovation by industrial robot application. Additionally, this research offers essential policy recommendations for effectively implementing human–machine collaboration and provides novel perspectives on improving and balancing the use of machine technology.