The AI disruption paradox: when technological threats stimulate green service innovation through employee crafting

Although research has shown increasing interest in employee innovation amid technological change, the influence of AI disruption threat on green service innovative behavior remains underexplored, particularly regarding the underlying mechanisms and boundary conditions. Drawing on event system theory, this study develops a moderated mediation model in which green crafting serves as a mediator between AI disruption threat and green service innovative behavior, and AI rumination moderates this mediated relationship. Using three-wave time-lagged survey data from 416 employees in the Chinese hotel industry, we found that green crafting mediates the positive effect of AI disruption threat on green service innovative behavior. Moreover, AI rumination weakens this mediating effect. These findings provide new insights into when and how technological threats can drive green innovation, enriching the existing body of knowledge in innovation management and sustainability.