The rapid development of artificial intelligence is sparking a productivity revolution, promoting the transition of traditional productivity to new quality productivity. In this context, based on the social-technical systems theory (STST), this paper divides artificial intelligence into two dimensions: vision and technology, constructs indicators for artificial intelligence vision and artificial intelligence technology, and explores the intrinsic correlation between artificial intelligence and the development of new quality productive forces using data from China's A-share listed companies from 2010 to 2022. The empirical results show that: 1) Artificial intelligence significantly promotes the development of new quality productive forces, and the test results after controlling for endogeneity and robustness are consistent with the benchmark test results. In addition, this paper confirms that compared with artificial intelligence technology, artificial intelligence vision may have an exaggeration effect, that is, the positive effect of artificial intelligence technology is smaller than that of artificial intelligence vision, which means that enterprises should not let artificial intelligence stay at the slogan stage when cultivating new productive forces, but should promote the implementation of artificial intelligence technology, so as to truly promote the development of enterprises' new quality productive forces. 2) In terms of transmission mechanism, this paper opens the black box of artificial intelligence driving the development of new quality productive forces, and analyzes the mechanism of artificial intelligence on the development of new quality productive forces from the perspective of labor skill structure adjustment. The study finds that both artificial intelligence vision and artificial intelligence technology significantly improve labor skill level and promote the transformation of labor skill structure from low-skilled to high-skilled, that is, artificial intelligence can empower labor skill improvement, and then have a positive impact on new quality productive forces. 3) Further research shows that the characteristics of high-tech industries are more conducive to the landing and application of artificial intelligence technology, and the better the digital technology facilities in the area where the enterprise is located, the stronger the positive effect that artificial intelligence technology may exert, that is, both aspects will strengthen the positive role of artificial intelligence in promoting new quality productive forces. The research conclusions of this paper have important policy implications for promoting enterprises to form new quality productive forces with high technology, high efficiency, and high quality, as well as the development of the artificial intelligence industry, as follows: First, we must unswervingly follow the path of technological development, continuously increase investment in artificial intelligence technology innovation, and lay a solid foundation for the formation and development of new quality productive forces with independent and self-reliant technology; Second, we must vigorously cultivate innovative and compound digital talents, continuously expand the new labor force, and provide a strong talent guarantee for the development of new quality productive forces; Third, we must accelerate the creation of soft environment and hard environment to provide fertile soil for the application of artificial intelligence technology and help the development of the artificial intelligence industry.