Abstract:This study systematically reviews and synthesizes research on the impact of AI on firm innovation performance, aiming to provide theoretical and practical guidance for digital transformation and innovation management. Utilizing bibliometrics and systematic literature review method, this study quantitatively processes 51 English and 18 Chinese articles published between 2018 and 2023 to map the field’s publication trends and thematic evolution. The findings reveal that research in this field is at the beginning of explosive growth, and the three core themes of “AI factors-process paths-performance output” have formed a balanced development pattern. The Chinese and English literature exhibit distinct complementary characteristics. English literature focuses on exploring the evolution of AI from a “supportive tool” to an “innovative agent” and the restructuring of innovation paradigms, demonstrating strong theoretical foresight; Chinese literature, on the other hand, tends to embed AI into specific contexts, using large-sample empirical studies to verify complex causal pathways in local management settings. On this basis, this study constructs an integrated framework and proposes an agenda for future research.