How Do Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Big Data (BD) Technologies Help Social Impact Enterprises Build Legitimacy? A Multiple-Case Study

This paper explores the role of artificial intelligence (AI) and big data (BD) technologies in social impact enterprises in China, particularly focusing on their social activities. It demonstrates that these technologies are instrumental in building pragmatic, moral, and cognitive legitimacy by enhancing transparency and efficiency in stakeholder interactions across both commercial and social networks. Additionally, the study highlights the vital role of social impact enterprises in maintaining infrastructure, public services, and social welfare in financially challenged regions amidst local government debt crises. The necessity for enterprises to align with historical and cultural norms, particularly Confucian values and kinship expectations, is also emphasized. This research bridges a critical gap in the literature, offering insights into the integration of technological innovation with social entrepreneurship, and providing a foundation for future studies and policy development.