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Artificial Intelligence Adoption and Organizational Resilience in SMEs: The Roles of Ambidextrous Innovation and Environmental Unpredictability

Year: 2026

Type: article

Abstract: Organizational resilience is a crucial skill for businesses to withstand environmental instability and pursue sustainable growth. In the volatile, uncertain, complex, and ambiguous (VUCA) era, effectively utilizing artificial intelligence (AI) to enhance organizational resilience has become a key challenge for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). This paper examines how AI adoption affects organizational resilience and the factors that influence this relationship, drawing on the resource-based view and dynamic capabilities theory. Based on survey data from 275 Chinese SMEs, the findings show that AI adoption significantly boosts organizational resilience. Moreover, ambidextrous innovation acts as a mediator, with exploitative innovation serving as the primary pathway. Further analysis indicates that environmental unpredictability strengthens the connection between AI adoption and resilience. These insights deepen the understanding of AI-driven resilience and offer practical guidance for SMEs seeking to build resilience in the face of uncertainty.

Source: Humanities and Social Sciences Communications

DOI: 10.1057/s41599-026-08062-6

Authors: Peng Peng, Xintian Li, Huanhuan Hu

Institutions: Qingdao University of Technology, Shandong Jianzhu University

Language: English

Topic: Innovation and Knowledge Management

Subfield: Strategy and Management

Field: Business, Management and Accounting

Domain: Social Sciences

SDGs: Industry, innovation and infrastructure, Decent work and economic growth

Open Access status: gold

Estimated APC paid: $1,890