Generative artificial intelligence and internationalization green innovation: Roles of supply chain innovations and AI regulation for SMEs

Shaofeng Wang and Hao Zhang

Technology in Society, 2025, vol. 82, issue C

Abstract: This study investigates how generative artificial intelligence (GenAI) impacts internationalization green innovation performance in cross-border e-commerce small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). Drawing on the resource-based view, we employed a mixed-methods approach, including partial least squares structural equation modeling (PLS-SEM), importance-performance map analysis (IPMA), fuzzy-set qualitative comparative analysis (fsQCA), and semi-structured interviews with 377 cross-border e-commerce SMEs. Our findings reveal that GenAI capability positively influences internationalization green innovation performance, both directly and indirectly, through supply chain exploratory and exploitative innovation. Notably, artificial intelligence (AI) regulation strengthens, rather than weakens, the positive relationship between GenAI capability and supply chain innovation. This highlights the potential for responsible AI governance to foster sustainable practices. The study contributes to understanding technology's role in societal transformation by illuminating how GenAI can promote sustainable business practices in internationalization contexts. Our findings offer valuable insights for policymakers and business leaders on effectively managing the societal implications of AI adoption while pursuing sustainability goals.

Keywords: Generative artificial intelligence; Sustainable innovation; Supply chain innovation; Artificial intelligence regulation; Social transformation; SMEs (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2025
References: Add references at CitEc
Citations:

Downloads: (external link)
http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0160791X25000880
Full text for ScienceDirect subscribers only

Related works:
This item may be available elsewhere in EconPapers: Search for items with the same title.

Export reference: BibTeX RIS (EndNote, ProCite, RefMan) HTML/Text

Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:eee:teinso:v:82:y:2025:i:c:s0160791x25000880

DOI: 10.1016/j.techsoc.2025.102898

Access Statistics for this article

Technology in Society is currently edited by Charla Griffy-Brown

More articles in Technology in Society from Elsevier
Bibliographic data for series maintained by Catherine Liu ().