AI INTEGRATION IN SUPPLY CHAINS – FROM PERCEPTIONS TO STRATEGIC IMPACT IN A GEOPOLITICALLY UNCERTAIN WORLD

This study examines how perceptions of artificial intelligence (AI) influence its strategic impact on supply chains under conditions of geopolitical uncertainty. Using survey data from 500 respondents and Partial Least Squares Structural Equation Modeling (PLS-SEM), the analysis includes AI familiarity, perceived benefits, perceived risks, decision support, and supply chain improvements. The results show that AI familiarity predicts both perceived benefits and risks, which in turn shape decision support. Perceived risks, often considered barriers, were found to play a constructive role in encouraging the more cautious and deliberate use of AI in managerial decisions. The strongest drivers of strategic impact were decision support and supply chain improvements, indicating that resilience-oriented mechanisms are key to capturing value from AI in uncertain environments. The study contributes theoretically by conceptualizing the strategic impact as a second-order construct that integrates efficiency, resilience, and adaptability, and offers practical guidance by emphasizing the importance of embedding AI in governance, decision processes, and supply chain collaboration to navigate geopolitical disruptions.