Artificial Intelligence Empowering the Low-Altitude Economy: Evidence from China

Recent technological and regulatory advances in unmanned aerial systems have given rise to the Low-Altitude Economy (LAE), an emerging arena of innovation and competition. Achieving sustainable and high-quality growth in this sector, however, hinges on the deep integration of Artificial Intelligence (AI) into its core operations. Based on provincial panel data from China spanning 2012-2023, this paper empirically examines the enabling effects of AI on LAE. The results show that AI development significantly promotes the growth of LAE, and this conclusion remains robust under multiple tests. Mechanism analysis reveals that AI drives the LAE primarily through two channels: improving digital infrastructure and enhancing technological innovation investment. Heterogeneity analysis further indicates that this positive effect is more pronounced in coastal regions and during the early stages of policy implementation. This study highlights the crucial role of AI in promoting the high-quality development of LAE and fostering new productive forces, offering empirical evidence and policy insights for building an intelligent low-altitude industrial system.