Not all sparks ignite the same flame: Firm AI innovation and ESG performance

IF 9.8 1区管理学 Q1 BUSINESS

Journal of Business Research Pub Date : 2025-09-27 DOI:10.1016/j.jbusres.2025.115738

Zixun Zhou , Xinyu Zhou , Xuezhi Zhang , Qi He

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引用次数: 0

Abstract

Technological innovation exhibits dual impacts—fueling progress while exacerbating disparities—especially regarding artificial intelligence (AI). While AI’s productivity benefits are well documented, its role in corporate sustainability remains contentious. Drawing on divergent perspectives from the resource-based view and stakeholder theory, this study examines the differential effects of firm-level AI innovation on Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) performance. Leveraging proprietary AI patent and hiring data from Chinese listed firms, we find that AI innovation significantly promotes ESG performance—particularly in governance and social dimensions—but not in environmental outcomes. Mechanism analyses reveal expanded AI talent recruitment, strengthened employee protection awareness, and improved corporate transparency as plausible channels. Moreover, AI innovation mitigates greenwashing behavior, corporate misconduct, and negative media coverage. By unpacking AI innovation-driven sustainability as a contested nexus, we advance the understanding of how technological capabilities and stakeholder accountability can reconcile ESG trade-offs.

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并不是所有的火花都会点燃同样的火焰：企业的人工智能创新和ESG绩效

技术创新表现出双重影响——在推动进步的同时加剧了差距——尤其是在人工智能方面。虽然人工智能的生产力效益有据可查，但它在企业可持续发展中的作用仍存在争议。利用资源基础观和利益相关者理论的不同视角，本研究考察了企业层面人工智能创新对环境、社会和治理（ESG）绩效的差异影响。利用中国上市公司的人工智能专利和招聘数据，我们发现人工智能创新显著促进了ESG绩效——尤其是在治理和社会维度——但在环境结果方面没有作用。机制分析表明，扩大人工智能人才招聘、加强员工保护意识、提高企业透明度是可行的渠道。此外，人工智能创新减轻了洗绿行为、企业不当行为和负面媒体报道。通过将人工智能创新驱动的可持续性作为一个有争议的关系进行分析，我们进一步了解了技术能力和利益相关者问责制如何协调ESG权衡。

本文章由计算机程序翻译，如有差异，请以英文原文为准。

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来源期刊

Journal of Business Research BUSINESS-

CiteScore

20.30

自引率

10.60%

发文量

956

期刊介绍： The Journal of Business Research aims to publish research that is rigorous, relevant, and potentially impactful. It examines a wide variety of business decision contexts, processes, and activities, developing insights that are meaningful for theory, practice, and/or society at large. The research is intended to generate meaningful debates in academia and practice, that are thought provoking and have the potential to make a difference to conceptual thinking and/or practice. The Journal is published for a broad range of stakeholders, including scholars, researchers, executives, and policy makers. It aids the application of its research to practical situations and theoretical findings to the reality of the business world as well as to society. The Journal is abstracted and indexed in several databases, including Social Sciences Citation Index, ANBAR, Current Contents, Management Contents, Management Literature in Brief, PsycINFO, Information Service, RePEc, Academic Journal Guide, ABI/Inform, INSPEC, etc.