Artificial intelligence (AI) is often seen as a key technology for future economic growth. However, its concrete effects on the emergence of radical innovations and the associated socio-economic impacts, through increasing divergence between smaller and larger firms, have not yet been systematically researched. This paper addresses this by investigating the extent to which AI-related knowledge influences the emergence of radical innovations and differentiates between SMEs and large firms. Based on a unique dataset of European firms combining firm-level data with patent data, we find a nuanced influence from AI. While AI applications assert a positive influence, AI techniques negatively influence the emergence of radical innovations. Being an SME significantly moderates these effects. Larger firms gain from AI applications, whereas SMEs gain from AI techniques. Therefore, AI knowledge in itself is not a general answer to increase the likelihood of creating radical innovation. Instead, a more differentiated view on AI is needed.

人工智能 (AI) 通常被视为未来经济增长的关键技术。然而，它对激进创新的出现和相关的社会经济影响的具体影响，通过扩大小公司和大公司之间的分歧，尚未得到系统研究。本文通过调查人工智能相关知识在多大程度上影响激进创新的出现以及区分中小企业和大公司来解决这个问题。基于欧洲公司的独特数据集，将公司层面的数据与专利数据相结合，我们发现 AI 产生了微妙的影响。虽然人工智能应用程序会产生积极影响，但人工智能技术会对激进创新的出现产生负面影响。成为中小企业可以显着缓和这些影响。大公司从人工智能应用中获益，而中小企业则从人工智能技术中获益。因此，人工智能知识本身并不是增加创造激进创新可能性的一般答案。相反，需要对人工智能有更不同的看法。