Artificial intelligence and radical innovation: an opportunity for all companies?
基于欧洲企业数据，研究发现人工智能应用对激进式创新有正向影响，而人工智能技术则有负向影响；中小企业从技术中获益，大企业从应用中获益。
Abstract Artificial intelligence (AI) is often seen as a key technology for future economic growth. However, its concrete effects on the emergence of radical innovations and the associated socio-economic impacts, through increasing divergence between smaller and larger firms, have not yet been systematically researched. This paper addresses this by investigating the extent to which AI-related knowledge influences the emergence of radical innovations and differentiates between SMEs and large firms. Based on a unique dataset of European firms combining firm-level data with patent data, we find a nuanced influence from AI. While AI applications assert a positive influence, AI techniques negatively influence the emergence of radical innovations. Being an SME significantly moderates these effects. Larger firms gain from AI applications, whereas SMEs gain from AI techniques. Therefore, AI knowledge in itself is not a general answer to increase the likelihood of creating radical innovation. Instead, a more differentiated view on AI is needed.