This paper aims to examine the effect of busy directors on corporate social responsibility (CSR) based on their directorships’ reputation incentives. Using the panel data of Chinese-listed companies in the Shanghai and Shenzhen stock exchange between 2016 and 2021, fixed-effects panel regression analysis is employed as the empirical methodology. In so doing, we find that the effect of busy directors on CSR appears to be nonlinear. Then, by focusing on the relative size of the firms served by busy directors, our study further shows that busy directors can improve CSR in their relatively more prestigious directorships. Nevertheless, busy directors may induce negative CSR in their relatively less prestigious directorships. These results together identify reputation incentives as one factor in determining whether busy directors affect CSR. Therefore, we conclude that reputation is an effective mechanism that can motivate busy directors to monitor and advise CSR.

Artificial intelligence (AI) technology has brought unprecedented impact and opportunities for the sustainable development of family firms. This paper examines the impact of AI on innovation investment in family firms using a sample of Chinese A-share listed family firms from 2007 to 2024. The results show that AI significantly promotes innovation investment in family firms to achieve sustainable development. Mechanism analysis shows that AI enhances both the willingness and capability of family firms to invest in innovation by improving their risk-taking levels and resource allocation efficiency, thereby promoting innovation investment. Heterogeneity analysis shows that the promotion effect of AI on innovation investment of family firms is more significant in smaller family firms, those directly founded by families, those with more family involvement in management, and those prior to intergenerational succession. Furthermore, the study finds that AI significantly improves the innovation performance of family firms. Our findings provide important theoretical and practical guidance for enterprises seeking to leverage AI to catalyze innovation investment and thereby achieve long-term value growth and sustainable development.