The relationship between artificial intelligence and environmental performance: the mediating role of external environmental factors
Abstract Despite the growing recognition of artificial intelligence in enhancing environmental performance, the pathways through which artificial intelligence influences environmental performance and the role of external factors, i.e., carbon emission strategies and sustainability regulations, in th...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Springer Nature
2025-06-01
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| Series: | Humanities & Social Sciences Communications |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1057/s41599-025-05199-8 |
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| author | Muhammad Khalid Anser Muhammad Naeem Shoukat Ali Sajid Ali Rubab Javid |
| author_facet | Muhammad Khalid Anser Muhammad Naeem Shoukat Ali Sajid Ali Rubab Javid |
| author_sort | Muhammad Khalid Anser |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Despite the growing recognition of artificial intelligence in enhancing environmental performance, the pathways through which artificial intelligence influences environmental performance and the role of external factors, i.e., carbon emission strategies and sustainability regulations, in this relationship are unexplored. Data were collected from 387 employees of small and medium enterprises in Pakistan. Our empirical analysis confirms a positive relationship between artificial intelligence use and environmental performance. The results also reveal that external factors mediate and intensify the association between artificial intelligence and environmental performance. These findings are aligned with dynamic capability theory, which suggests that artificial intelligence tools with external factors can enhance small and medium enterprises’ capabilities to achieve sustainable development goals and improve environmental performance. This study has some practical and social implications for stakeholders, i.e., owners, policy-makers, and managers of small and medium enterprises in emerging economies, to promote sustainable practices and environmental performance of businesses. As per the researcher’s knowledge, this study is the inaugural investigation into the influence of artificial intelligence on environmental performance, considering the mediating role of external environmental factors and employing dynamic capability theory within the context of small and medium enterprises in Pakistan. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-d9466f861a214909ad50cefbc3967a1d |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 2662-9992 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-06-01 |
| publisher | Springer Nature |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Humanities & Social Sciences Communications |
| spelling | doaj-art-d9466f861a214909ad50cefbc3967a1d2025-08-20T04:01:52ZengSpringer NatureHumanities & Social Sciences Communications2662-99922025-06-011211710.1057/s41599-025-05199-8The relationship between artificial intelligence and environmental performance: the mediating role of external environmental factorsMuhammad Khalid Anser0Muhammad Naeem1Shoukat Ali2Sajid Ali3Rubab Javid4School of Business, Xi’an International UniversityDepartment of Commerce, The Islamia University of BahawalpurDepartment of Commerce, The Islamia University of BahawalpurSchool of Economics, Bahauddin Zakariya UniversityDepartment of Commerce, The Islamia University of BahawalpurAbstract Despite the growing recognition of artificial intelligence in enhancing environmental performance, the pathways through which artificial intelligence influences environmental performance and the role of external factors, i.e., carbon emission strategies and sustainability regulations, in this relationship are unexplored. Data were collected from 387 employees of small and medium enterprises in Pakistan. Our empirical analysis confirms a positive relationship between artificial intelligence use and environmental performance. The results also reveal that external factors mediate and intensify the association between artificial intelligence and environmental performance. These findings are aligned with dynamic capability theory, which suggests that artificial intelligence tools with external factors can enhance small and medium enterprises’ capabilities to achieve sustainable development goals and improve environmental performance. This study has some practical and social implications for stakeholders, i.e., owners, policy-makers, and managers of small and medium enterprises in emerging economies, to promote sustainable practices and environmental performance of businesses. As per the researcher’s knowledge, this study is the inaugural investigation into the influence of artificial intelligence on environmental performance, considering the mediating role of external environmental factors and employing dynamic capability theory within the context of small and medium enterprises in Pakistan.https://doi.org/10.1057/s41599-025-05199-8 |
| spellingShingle | Muhammad Khalid Anser Muhammad Naeem Shoukat Ali Sajid Ali Rubab Javid The relationship between artificial intelligence and environmental performance: the mediating role of external environmental factors Humanities & Social Sciences Communications |
| title | The relationship between artificial intelligence and environmental performance: the mediating role of external environmental factors |
| title_full | The relationship between artificial intelligence and environmental performance: the mediating role of external environmental factors |
| title_fullStr | The relationship between artificial intelligence and environmental performance: the mediating role of external environmental factors |
| title_full_unstemmed | The relationship between artificial intelligence and environmental performance: the mediating role of external environmental factors |
| title_short | The relationship between artificial intelligence and environmental performance: the mediating role of external environmental factors |
| title_sort | relationship between artificial intelligence and environmental performance the mediating role of external environmental factors |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1057/s41599-025-05199-8 |
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