IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/eee/finlet/v90y2026ics1544612325025413.html

AI-driven, human–AI collaboration, and employee performance: The roles of digital finance

Author

Listed:
  • Wan, Siyi
  • Jiang, Yuhong

Abstract

Drawing on data from Chinese listed firms from 2004 to 2023, this paper examines the relationships among AI-driven, human–AI collaboration, and employee performance. The findings show that AI-driven initiatives significantly improve employee performance, with digital finance and capital allocation efficiency playing partial mediating roles in the relationship between AI-driven and employee performance. The moderating effect analysis indicates that human–AI collaboration positively moderates the impact of AI on employee performance. Heterogeneity analysis reveals that the effect of AI on improving employee performance is more pronounced in firms facing higher financing constraints. The results provide practical guidance for firms undergoing intelligent transformation to optimize human–AI relationships, leverage financial tools, and enhance resource allocation efficiency.

Suggested Citation

  • Wan, Siyi & Jiang, Yuhong, 2026. "AI-driven, human–AI collaboration, and employee performance: The roles of digital finance," Finance Research Letters, Elsevier, vol. 90(C).
  • Handle: RePEc:eee:finlet:v:90:y:2026:i:c:s1544612325025413
    DOI: 10.1016/j.frl.2025.109292
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1544612325025413
    Download Restriction: Full text for ScienceDirect subscribers only

    File URL: https://libkey.io/10.1016/j.frl.2025.109292?utm_source=ideas
    LibKey link: if access is restricted and if your library uses this service, LibKey will redirect you to where you can use your library subscription to access this item
    ---><---

    As the access to this document is restricted, you may want to

    for a different version of it.

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Li, Junjun & Wu, Tong & Hu, Boqiang & Pan, Dongliang & Zhou, Yaqiong, 2025. "Artificial intelligence and corporate ESG performance," International Review of Financial Analysis, Elsevier, vol. 102(C).
    2. Kirti Sood & Simarjeet Singh, 2024. "Multi-central bank digital currencies arrangements: a multivocal literature review," China Finance Review International, Emerald Group Publishing Limited, vol. 14(4), pages 813-841, June.
    3. Cui, Xiaoping & Sun, Ke & Zhang, Tianrui, 2025. "Optimization of human capital in management and integration with digital finance: Strategies for enhancing corporate competitiveness," Finance Research Letters, Elsevier, vol. 83(C).
    4. Lin, Ying & Yan, Xiaohan & Yang, Xiuyun, 2023. "Digital finance and enterprise investment efficiency in China," International Review of Financial Analysis, Elsevier, vol. 90(C).
    5. Faezal Bin Ramly & Mohd Zaidi Md Zabri, 2024. "Unveiling the digital desire: UTAUT analysis of NFT investment intentions in Malaysia," China Finance Review International, Emerald Group Publishing Limited, vol. 14(3), pages 630-647, July.
    6. Scott Richardson, 2006. "Over-investment of free cash flow," Review of Accounting Studies, Springer, vol. 11(2), pages 159-189, September.
    7. Liu, Yangyan & Song, Jia & Zhou, Bingjun & Liu, Jiangui, 2025. "Artificial intelligence applications and corporate ESG performance," International Review of Economics & Finance, Elsevier, vol. 104(C).
    8. Guo, Xiaoxu & Wang, Yihan, 2025. "Effects of digital finance on enterprise total factor productivity: Evidence from the perspective of innovation level," Finance Research Letters, Elsevier, vol. 72(C).
    9. Wang, Yunsong & Jiang, Aiqing & Zhang, Songlin & Chen, Weihong, 2024. "Traditional finance, digital finance, and financial efficiency: An empirical analysis based on 19 urban agglomerations in China," International Review of Financial Analysis, Elsevier, vol. 96(PA).
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Guan, Tong & Zheng, Rui & Chen, Aoyun, 2026. "Artificial intelligence and corporate energy consumption: The policy effects of the new-generation artificial intelligence innovation and development pilot zones," Economic Analysis and Policy, Elsevier, vol. 89(C), pages 148-164.
    2. Wang, Yihui & Ge, Xiangyu, 2025. "Digital finance, investor sentiment, and corporate inefficient investment," Finance Research Letters, Elsevier, vol. 83(C).
    3. Chen, Yuhang & Zhong, Yilin & Xu, Feng & Zhang, Qinghua, 2025. "Driving environmental, social, and governance excellence: The direct and indirect effects of intelligent transformation," Structural Change and Economic Dynamics, Elsevier, vol. 75(C), pages 313-331.
    4. Xiang, Xin & He, Xu & Han, Yajie, 2026. "Digital finance and IPO underpricing: Evidence from China," International Review of Economics & Finance, Elsevier, vol. 105(C).
    5. Sha, Feiyun & Meng, Jiawei & Zheng, Xiaoyu & Jiang, Yaqi, 2025. "Sustainability under fire: How China-US tensions impact corporate ESG performance?," Finance Research Letters, Elsevier, vol. 85(PA).
    6. Wu, Shan & Zou, Mengqi & Jin, Tongen, 2025. "Data element marketization and corporate investment efficiency: Evidence from China," International Review of Financial Analysis, Elsevier, vol. 104(PA).
    7. Daniele Giordino & Elisa Ballesio & Nourah Alshaghdali & Dhruv Galgotia, 2026. "The relationship between organizational focus on AI, financial growth and sustainable development: Evidence from Europe," Post-Print hal-05433094, HAL.
    8. Giordino, Daniele & Ballesio, Elisa & Alshaghdali, Nourah & Galgotia, Dhruv, 2026. "The relationship between organizational focus on AI, financial growth and sustainable development: Evidence from Europe," Technological Forecasting and Social Change, Elsevier, vol. 224(C).
    9. Mu, Tian tian & Shan, Qiaojuan & Zhu, Guangyu & Xu, Yang & Agag, Gomaa & Alipour, Osman, 2026. "Beyond technology: The dual role of AI and narratives in driving ESG performance in China's retail industry," Journal of Retailing and Consumer Services, Elsevier, vol. 90(C).
    10. Huang, Qianxuan & Gao, Li, 2025. "Technological empowerment: The pathways of artificial intelligence influencing corporate ESG performance," Finance Research Letters, Elsevier, vol. 86(PF).
    11. Shi, Wenlei & Ying, Limeng & Ma, Guohua & Niu, Yanfang & Lv, Yuanyuan & Xu, Xiaofang, 2025. "Intelligent manufacturing, media attention, and sustainable development performance," International Review of Financial Analysis, Elsevier, vol. 106(C).
    12. Luo, Shuangcheng & Kang, Qi & Qian, Qiulan & Cheng, Jie & Xiong, Zhiqiao, 2026. "Towards sustainable development: ESG incentive effect of China's Intelligent Manufacturing Pilot Demonstration Policy," International Journal of Production Economics, Elsevier, vol. 294(C).
    13. Deng, Xiaomeng & Qin, Chuan, 2026. "Artificial intelligence and corporate financialization," International Review of Financial Analysis, Elsevier, vol. 110(C).
    14. Zhu, Cuihua & Yu, Jingyuan, 2025. "Going out and bringing in: Impact of digital finance on firms' cross-regional investments," International Review of Financial Analysis, Elsevier, vol. 106(C).
    15. Zhang, Ruichen & Zhou, Guochen & Pu, Yijia & Wen, Lei, 2025. "Family business origin and artificial intelligence investment: The mediating role of long-term orientation," Finance Research Letters, Elsevier, vol. 86(PG).
    16. repec:osf:socarx:x7q6c_v1 is not listed on IDEAS
    17. Tian, Xinci & Ma, Yueyue, 2026. "Digital asset intensity and strategic disclosure effects on firm performance: Evidence from China," International Review of Economics & Finance, Elsevier, vol. 105(C).
    18. Li, Chengming & Wang, Hanyang & Zhang, Changyun, 2026. "Digital transformation and corporate mergers and acquisitions: Evidence and mechanism in China," Pacific-Basin Finance Journal, Elsevier, vol. 95(C).
    19. Huang, Wendi & Zhang, Weikang, 2024. "Exchange rate and corporate investment: Heterogeneous effects via the global value chain networks," Journal of International Money and Finance, Elsevier, vol. 147(C).
    20. Chen, Xiaojie & He, Guangwen, 2025. "Digital credit and investment in risky financial assets: Evidence from rural China," Finance Research Letters, Elsevier, vol. 86(PF).
    21. Zhou, Yuanxiang & Liu, Huayan & Chen, Chan & Ma, Yingqi, 2025. "The impact of digital inclusive finance on green economic efficiency: Pathways to inclusive sustainability," Research in International Business and Finance, Elsevier, vol. 76(C).

    More about this item

    Keywords

    ;
    ;
    ;
    ;
    ;

    Statistics

    Access and download statistics

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:eee:finlet:v:90:y:2026:i:c:s1544612325025413. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: Catherine Liu (email available below). General contact details of provider: http://www.elsevier.com/locate/frl .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.