How do different perceptions of AI influence business model innovation through the transfer of tacit human knowledge to AI?
Baoliang Hu, Jing Ji, Suping Zhang, Shuai Yan · Technology Analysis and Strategic Management · 2026
Previous research has largely overlooked how employees’ AI perceptions affect business model innovation (BMI). Based on an integration of attention-based view and resource dependence theory (ABV-RDT), this study examines how threat or value perceptions of AI influence BMI, mediated by human-AI tacit knowledge transfer (HTKT) and moderated by decision-making task complexity (TC). Surveying 321 Chinese enterprises, we find that both perceptions foster BMI via enhanced HTKT, with HTKT serving as a key mediator. TC strengthens the positive effect of value perception on HTKT. These findings advance theoretical understanding of AI-driven BMI and offer practical guidance for managing employee perceptions and promoting innovation.