IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/eee/teinso/v86y2026ics0160791x26000953.html

How do artificial intelligence applications influence firm digital innovation performance? Based on a strategic change perspective

Author

Listed:
  • Ma, Dechao
  • Wu, Weiwei
  • Liang, Yijing
  • He, Ran

Abstract

With the rapid advancement of artificial intelligence (AI) technology, firms are encountering new opportunities in their digital innovation processes. However, existing research has not yet provided a systematic explanation of the mechanisms through which AI influences digital innovation performance, particularly with respect to the mediating role of strategic change. Drawing on the resource-based view, this study examines how AI applications shape firms' digital innovation performance and uncovers its underlying mechanisms, with a specific focus on the mediating effects of strategic aggressiveness and strategic differentiation. Using empirical analysis, we draw on a sample of Chinese A-share listed companies from 2015 to 2023 to test our hypotheses. The results reveal that AI applications significantly and positively influence digital innovation performance and simultaneously promote increases in both strategic aggressiveness and strategic differentiation. Furthermore, strategic aggressiveness and strategic differentiation play significant mediating roles in the relationship between AI applications and digital innovation performance. This study is the first to uncover the underlying mechanism through which AI affects digital innovation performance from the perspective of strategic change. It not only deepens theoretical understanding of how AI shapes digital innovation but also provides practical guidance for firms seeking to leverage AI to promote strategic change and innovation.

Suggested Citation

  • Ma, Dechao & Wu, Weiwei & Liang, Yijing & He, Ran, 2026. "How do artificial intelligence applications influence firm digital innovation performance? Based on a strategic change perspective," Technology in Society, Elsevier, vol. 86(C).
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:teinso:v:86:y:2026:i:c:s0160791x26000953
    DOI: 10.1016/j.techsoc.2026.103306
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0160791X26000953
    Download Restriction: Full text for ScienceDirect subscribers only
    File URL: https://libkey.io/10.1016/j.techsoc.2026.103306?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.

    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:teinso:v:86:y:2026:i:c:s0160791x26000953. 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.

    We have no bibliographic references for this item. You can help adding them by using 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: https://www.journals.elsevier.com/technology-in-society .

    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.