Alumni Networks, Board Characteristics, and Artificial Intelligence Adoption: Evidence from Chinese Listed Companies
Abstract
Alumni relationships are essential social capital that are significant in companies’ resource acquisition and information sharing. Using 2018 data from Chinese listed companies, this study examines the impact of the chairperson–alumni network on corporate artificial intelligence (AI) adoption. The results show that chairperson–alumni relations are positively associated with AI adoption. Moreover, the impact of chairperson–alumni networks on AI adoption may span industrial, administrative, and geographical boundaries. This study shows that chairperson–alumni networks can indirectly influence AI adoption by influencing board size. Finally, this study demonstrates the heterogeneity of the impact of the chairperson–alumni network on AI adoption.
Fields of Study & Subjects
AI in Service Interactions
Family Business Performance and Succession
Ethics and Social Impacts of AI
Publication details
- Journal / source
- Systems
- Publisher
- MDPI AG
- Volume
- 14
- Issue
- 2
- Pages
- 169–169
- Publication date
- 4 February 2026
- Language
- EN