Promoting High-Quality Matching: AI Investment Decisions on Digital-Intelligent Service Platforms for Technology Transfer

The efficiency of scientific and technological achievement transformation is constrained by supply–demand matching challenges. Concurrently, Artificial Intelligence (AI) offers novel pathways for digital-intelligence service platforms to mitigate this challenge. To resolve AI investment decision problems of such platforms, this study constructs a bilateral matching model involving high-quality/low-quality technology providers and high-capability/low-capability technology seekers. Based on expected value theory and Stackelberg games, it derives optimal AI investment strategies for the Commercial Platform (platform’s expected revenue maximisation objective) and the Public Welfare Platform (social expected revenue maximisation objective). Findings indicate that higher AI investment contributes to a rise in the matching probability between high-quality providers and high-capability demanders. Owing to incomplete benefit internalization, platforms of different types show divergent willingness for AI investment. The AI investment level of the Commercial Platform is lower than that of the Public Welfare Platform, which results in losses of expected matching value. Furthermore, declines in AI technology costs and reduced external selection value of suppliers will drive platforms to raise their AI investment intensity. This research provides theoretical foundations for optimising AI strategies in online technology transfer service platforms and informing targeted government interventions.