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Artificial intelligence adoption and corporate green innovation capability

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  • Zhong, Kai
  • Song, Liangrong

Abstract

The necessity of addressing climate change has promoted green innovation in corporate and policy agendas, while artificial intelligence (AI) has transformed business operations across sectors. This study examined the impact of AI adoption on green innovation capability in Chinese-listed companies. We focused on the mediating roles of financing constraints and agency costs. The findings indicate a significant positive relationship between AI adoption and green innovation capability by analyzing 30,572 firm–year observations from 2010 to 2022 through a two-way fixed-effects model, mediation analysis, and heterogeneity tests. Reduced financing constraints and agency costs partially mediated the relationship. Heterogeneity analysis reveals that AI adoption's impact was strongest for firms in growth stages and non-state-owned enterprises. These findings elucidate how technological advancements drive sustainable corporate practices contingent upon organizational life cycles and ownership structures.

Suggested Citation

  • Zhong, Kai & Song, Liangrong, 2025. "Artificial intelligence adoption and corporate green innovation capability," Finance Research Letters, Elsevier, vol. 72(C).
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:finlet:v:72:y:2025:i:c:s1544612324015095
    DOI: 10.1016/j.frl.2024.106480
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    Cited by:

    1. Guanyan Lu & Bingxiang Li, 2025. "Artificial Intelligence and Green Collaborative Innovation: An Empirical Investigation Based on a High-Dimensional Fixed Effects Model," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 17(9), pages 1-41, May.

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