AI-Driven Digital Transformation and Firm Performance in Chinese Industrial Enterprises: Mediating Role of Green Digital Innovation and Moderating Effects of Human-AI Collaboration

Abstract: This study examines the relationship between AI-driven digital transformation and firm performance in Chinese industrial enterprises, with particular attention to the mediating role of green digital innovation and the moderating effects of human-AI collaboration. Using panel data from 6,300 firm-year observations collected from CNRDS and CSMAR databases between 2015 and 2022, we employ multiple regression analysis and structural equation modeling to test our hypotheses. Our findings reveal that AI-driven digital transformation significantly enhances firm performance, with green digital innovation mediating this relationship. Furthermore, human-AI collaboration positively moderates both the direct relationship between digital transformation and firm performance and the mediating pathway through green digital innovation. The results provide valuable insights for management practice and policy formulation in the context of China's evolving industrial landscape and digital economy initiatives. This research contributes to the literature by integrating perspectives from technology management, environmental sustainability, and organizational theory to understand the complex interplay between technological adoption and business outcomes.