Unveiling the impact of artificial intelligence on corporate misconduct, the perspective of information asymmetry

The increasing application of artificial intelligence (AI) technology in enterprises is attracting significant academic attention owing to its role in fostering corporate innovation. This study, grounded in the resource integration perspective of the dynamic capability theory, employs data from Chinese listed companies for the period 2011–2022 to investigate the distinct pathways through which AI influences both technological and process innovations within enterprises. The findings indicate that AI enhances the efficiency and quality of corporate innovation by improving resource integration efficiency and optimizing the innovation decision-making process. Additionally, the study elucidates the moderating effects of the chief information officer and chief technology officer on the relationship between AI adoption and enterprise innovation. To ensure the robustness of the results, a Poisson regression model was applied to address the characteristics of count data, and nine robustness tests were conducted to mitigate potential endogeneity issues. This research theoretically extends the understanding of the interplay between AI technology, resource integration, and enterprise innovation, offering valuable insights for practical applications. It assists enterprises in optimizing resource integration via digital technologies and promoting high-quality innovation activities.