As a disruptive technology, artificial intelligence ( AI) is increasingly becoming a key force driving the fourth technological revolution. Its application in enterprises has gained significant attention from both academia and industry. Despite AI’s immense potential, the reasons why enterprises adopt AI, how they implement it, and the impacts of its application have not been systematically integrated or comprehensively summarized. Addressing this gap, this study collected a sample of 725 relevant articles from the Web of Science Core Collection and the China National Knowledge Infrastructure ( CNKI) databases. Using the bibliometric software CiteSpace, a quantitative analysis was conducted to outline the overall landscape and evolutionary trajectory of AI research in the field of enterprise management. Through content analysis, the main research themes on enterprise AI applications were organized and examined. Based on the Technology-OrganizationEnvironment ( TOE) framework and the dynamic capabilities framework, an Input-Process-Output ( I-P-O) theoretical framework for enterprise AI applications was constructed. From the perspective of the Chinese context, this study provides researchers in the field with a relatively comprehensive and systematic theoretical research framework and actionable future research directions from the aspects of driving factors, process mechanisms, and outcomes. It also offers valuable instrumental references for enterprises in the practical application of AI.