Innovative horizons: the impact of AI on entrepreneurial performance

This paper investigates the impact of artificial intelligence (AI) on entrepreneurial performance, focusing on firm performance and creativity. While extensive research highlights AI’s operational advantages, its impact on fostering entrepreneurial creativity remains insufficiently explored. Drawing on social exchange theory, the study examines how five AI constructs influence firm performance and creativity, which comprise the firm’s entrepreneurial performance. Additionally, the paper emphasizes the role of these exchanges in enhancing AI’s impact on business outcomes and strengthening entrepreneurial performance. Through a cross-sectional survey and quantitative analysis, the research finds that AI significantly enhances both firm performance and firm creativity, with the latter being a crucial element of entrepreneurial performance, and environmental dynamics playing a critical moderating role. This study contributes to businesses and policymakers aiming to leverage AI for both operational efficiency and creative innovation, providing a framework that connects AI implementation to successful entrepreneurial performance.