Does artificial intelligence improve energy productivity in China's industrial sector? Empirical evidence based on the spatial moderation model

This study investigates the impacts of industrial intelligence on the total factor energy productivity (TFEP) using extended STIRPAT and spatial moderation models for China's industrial sector. The results show that TFEP and industrial intelligence are both increasing, and industrial intelligence positively affects TFEP, for every 1% increase in industrial intelligence will lead to TFEP growth by 0.121% in the study area and 0.031% in surrounding areas. Environmental regulation, industrial upgrading, and advanced human capital all function as helpful moderators between industrial intelligence and TFEP, that is, for every 1% increase in environmental regulation, industrial upgrading, and advanced human capital, the growth of TFEP caused by industrial intelligence enhanced by 0.003%, 0.009%, and 0.022% in study area and 0.005%, 0.042%, and 0.054% in surrounding areas.