The impact of human-AI synergy on corporate energy consumption intensity: Micro-level evidence from Chinese listed companies

Amid escalating climate challenges and the global transition towards low-carbon development, can human-AI synergy enhance corporate energy efficiency? This study investigates the influence of human-AI synergy on energy intensity utilizing data from Chinese A-share listed companies spanning 2012 to 2023. Empirical results reveal that human-AI synergy can reduce energy consumption intensity. Mechanism analysis indicates that human-AI synergy primarily diminishes energy consumption intensity by promoting low-carbon technological innovation, enhancing total factor productivity, and improving digital transformation. Heterogeneity analysis reveals that the decline in energy consumption intensity is more pronounced in enterprises with higher managerial green cognition, relatively weak operational efficiency, and high-tech firms. Further analysis suggests that human-AI synergy promotes corporate ESG performance and each E-S-G dimension by reducing energy consumption intensity. These findings highlight the potential role of human-AI synergy in driving corporate green initiatives, and providing empirical evidence for sustainable development in the digital era.