The Road to corporate sustainability: The importance of artificial intelligence

Artificial intelligence (AI) is playing an increasingly important role in the corporate strategic development, and this study explores the relationship between AI and corporate sustainable development for the first time. By analyzing data from Chinese listed companies from 2011 to 2020 and employing a series of robust methods, this study makes the following findings: First, AI promotes corporate sustainable development, with a greater impact on environmental governance and social responsibility. Second, this study focuses on the moderating effects of internal and external pressures. Confucian culture and public pressure hinder the positive effects of AI, while technological proficiency and data security awareness amplify this positive impact. Finally, this study explores the potential pathways of AI based on corporate resource allocation and stakeholders. AI achieves corporate sustainable development by alleviating financing constraints, reducing agency costs, improving supply chain performance, labor productivity, resource utilization efficiency, and reducing corporate risks. These findings have significant implications for the application of AI technology and corporate sustainable development in emerging countries, including China.