<p>The transformative potential of artificial intelligence (AI) is well-known and is expected to be further amplified in the coming years. Prior research has primarily focused on the benefits of AI under stable conditions, while there is limited understanding of whether it is equally effective in enhancing organizational resilience under adverse conditions. Drawing on organizational information processing theory, this study introduces a novel theoretical framework for investigating how AI influences organizational resilience. Using a moderated mediation model, it reveals the mediating role of business model innovation and the moderating roles of a CEO’s digital professional background. The empirical tests of panel data from 1234 Chinese listed firms between 2015 and 2022 confirm the positive impact of AI on organizational resilience by employing the GMM model. Notably, the effect is more pronounced in firms with positive aspiration performance gaps. In addition, the study demonstrates that business model innovation acts as a mediator between AI and organizational resilience. CEO’s digital professional background emerges as a significant boundary condition, strengthening the relationship between AI and organizational resilience and the mediating effect of business model innovation on this relationship. This study contributes to the literature on AI under adverse conditions and provides valuable insights into the enhancing mechanisms of organizational resilience.</p>