Unlocking the Synergy: Increasing productivity through Human-AI collaboration in the industry 5.0 Era

The prevailing trajectory of technological evolution emphasizes the sustainable development of human-AI collaboration. In this study, we employ the coupling coordination degree model to evaluate the dynamics of human-AI collaboration in China and match it with listed companies. Through panel models, the study not only quantifies the contribution of such collaboration to enhancing company input–output efficiency but also explores how it serves as a catalyst for technological catch-up. Our findings indicate that the integration of human capital with AI emerges as a potent driver of company efficiency, with the extent of the impact also tied to organizational characteristics. Furthermore, the scale of investment and organizational size play a crucial role in the effectiveness of HIC, underscoring the adaptability of human-AI collaboration strategies to various organizational contexts and the importance of tailored implementation. Our research highlights the inherent collaborative potential of AI within the Industry 5.0 framework, advocating for the fusion of human creativity with AI precision to foster a development paradigm that is resource-efficient, cost-effective, and human-centric.