Impact of Entrepreneurial Orientation and Artificial Intelligence on Digital Entrepreneurial Resilience: the Mediating Role of Commitment to Learning

Abstract

Abstract: In today's rapidly changing digital landscape, many firms suffer unprecedented volatility, making digital entrepreneurial resilience a key capability for survival. While previous studies have extensively investigated traditional resilience, there is no research dealing with how artificial intelligence strengthens digital entrepreneurial resilience in emerging economies such as Tunisia. More precisely, it remains unclear how a firm's commitment to learning converts technological adoption into resilient outcomes. Therefore, this article investigates the impact of entrepreneurial orientation and artificial intelligence on digital entrepreneurial resilience, specifically examining the mediating role of commitment to learning. Data were gathered through a survey of 90 Tunisian business founders and analyzed using Partial Least Squares Structural Equation Modeling with bootstrapping. We found that entrepreneurial orientation strongly drives the adoption and integration of artificial intelligence. Furthermore, artificial intelligence has a positive direct impact on digital entrepreneurial resilience and commitment to learning. Crucially, the findings confirm that commitment to learning acts as a complementary mediator. This suggests that, while artificial intelligence gives technical tools for resilience, a continuous commitment to learning enhances these benefits by helping businesses to better integrate these technologies. These findings provide crucial insights for Tunisian entrepreneurs and policymakers. Managers should consider artificial intelligence not as a static technology, but as a catalyst for organizational learning. To maximize digital entrepreneurial resilience, organizations must adopt a twin strategy. On the one hand, managers should incorporate advanced digital tools to significantly enhance their managerial work. On the other hand, they have to create a learning environment that can adjust to the complex technological outputs. As a result, Tunisian startups can maintain a sustainable competitive advantage. Nevertheless, this study is restricted by its small sample size and cross-sectional design. Future research should use longitudinal designs to observe how the relationship between artificial intelligence and resilience changes over time in various geographic contexts.