LEVERAGING AI FOR SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT IN SMES: THE MEDIATING ROLES OF INNOVATION CAPABILITY AND ORGANIZATIONAL LEARNING

Abstract

With the rapid advancement of artificial intelligence (AI) technologies in Beijing and the growing emphasis on enterprise sustainability, AI applications have become a key driver of sustainable growth for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). This study investigates how AI influences enterprise sustainable development, emphasizing the mediating roles of innovation capability and organizational learning. Grounded in Technology Innovation Theory, Organizational Learning Theory, and Enterprise Sustainable Development Theory, the research adopts a mixed-methods approach that integrates quantitative and qualitative analyses. Data are collected through online questionnaires and semi-structured interviews with senior and middle managers from SMEs across various industries in Beijing. Partial Least Squares Structural Equation Modeling (PLS-SEM) is applied to test the proposed conceptual framework. The results reveal that AI adoption significantly enhances enterprise sustainable development, both directly and indirectly, through innovation capability and organizational learning. AI fosters innovation by enabling data-driven insights, automation, and rapid prototyping, while simultaneously promoting organizational learning through improved knowledge management and global knowledge access. A sequential mediation pathway is identified in which AI strengthens organizational learning, which subsequently enhances innovation capability, ultimately driving sustainable development. This study contributes to the theoretical understanding of how AI facilitates sustainable enterprise growth and offers practical insights for SMEs in Beijing aiming to integrate AI into their innovation and learning strategies for long-term sustainability.