Advanced scientific and technological advancements, particularly artificial intelligence (AI), are recognized as the driving force behind the emergence of new quality productivity. The paths and mechanisms of influence between AI and productivity, however, remain unclear. A comparison between new quality productivity and traditional productivity is first conducted, followed by an elucidation of the characteristics of new quality productivity elements at the employee, enterprise, and industry levels, along with the application characteristics of AI. At the employee level, the “automation-enhancement” pathway is studied, along with AI’s role in capability integration, learning, and reconfiguration. At the enterprise level, AI’s role in enterprise functions such as marketing, innovation, and strategic decision-making is studied. Also, the structuring, restructuring, and utilization of resources are investigated. Additionally, the research delves into AI’s role in shaping industry-level dynamics via the industrial, innovation, capital, and talent chains, and the mechanisms of labor substitution, spillover integration, technological innovation, and ecological synergies. Recommendations are made to support new quality productivity development in the short, medium, and long terms. Knowledge on AI’s role in new quality productivity is expanded by the exploration, and discussion with related research is fostered.