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Artificial intelligence adoption and corporate substantive green innovation: An occupational impact perspective

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  • Zhang, Wenna
  • Qi, Shaozhou

Abstract

As artificial intelligence (AI) becomes an increasingly strategic tool for sustainable transformation, understanding its impact on corporate green innovation (GI) is critical. This study examines how artificial intelligence adoption (AIA) affects corporate substantive GI (SUGI) using Chinese listed companies from 2015 to 2023. We measure AIA based on its occupational impact on firms' labor structures. The relevant results are threefold. First, AIA significantly enhances SUGI by improving green R&D efficiency, strengthening environmental data governance capabilities, and boosting short-term outcomes. Second, the effects are stronger for firms in less-polluting industries, larger firms, and those with greater AIA capacity, but weaker when management has a deeper IT background due to path dependence. Third, using recruitment big data, we find that AIA increases salaries for research and development personnel and AI-related positions, emphasizing human capital's critical role in the AI-driven green transition. Our findings indicate that policymakers should promote AIA through targeted policies that reduce technology costs for small and medium-sized enterprises and polluting industries, while coordinating talent development initiatives to maximize AI's contribution to sustainable innovation.

Suggested Citation

  • Zhang, Wenna & Qi, Shaozhou, 2026. "Artificial intelligence adoption and corporate substantive green innovation: An occupational impact perspective," Technology in Society, Elsevier, vol. 87(C).
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:teinso:v:87:y:2026:i:c:s0160791x26002009
    DOI: 10.1016/j.techsoc.2026.103411
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