Artificial Intelligence and Sustainable Energy Transition: Innovation–Utilization Pathways and the Contingent Roles of Political, Financial, and Economic Stability

ABSTRACT

Artificial intelligence (AI) is increasingly linked to sustainable energy transitions, but its role can be highly contextual on country‐specific technological pathways and macro‐level stability. Using balanced panel data for 60 countries from 2010 to 2022, this study examines the relationship between AI indices and renewable energy consumption outcomes through fixed‐effects models, dynamic panel threshold models, and scenario‐based regressions. The results support the positive association between AI development and renewable energy consumption share, with stronger effects in high‐income countries than in middle‐income countries. The technology channel yields a stronger impact than the application channel, while AI application is insignificant in middle‐income countries, suggesting constraints from weak digital infrastructure and absorptive capacity. Threshold results indicate that political and financial stability strengthen the AI–energy transition relationship, whereas economic stability shows a diminishing marginal pattern. Scenario analysis further suggests that AI is most effective under jointly low political, financial, and economic risks. These findings highlight that intelligence‐enabled energy transition requires not only AI development, but also stable governance, resilient finance, and adaptive macroeconomic policies.