In the context of the system of digital and real integration, artificial intelligence technology is an important driving force to promote the productivity utilization of real enterprises and achieve the goal of becoming A quasi-natural experiment was conducted based on the establishment of National New Generation Artificial Intelligence Innovation and Development Pilot Zones. Data from Chinese A-share listed companies from 2010 to 2024 were analyzed. The main findings are as follows. First, the establishment of the pilot zones significantly improved enterprise capacity utilization, with an estimated economic increase of approximately 1.04%. Effective empowerment of the real economy toward output enhancement and efficiency improvement was thereby achieved. Second, mechanism tests indicated that artificial intelligence application improved capacity utilization through three channels: operational efficiency enhancement, technology upgrading facilitation, and production-sales fluctuation reduction. Third, pathway tests showed that the pilot policy promoted the optimization of talent structures and increased patent outputs. Fourth, heterogeneity analyses based on enterprise characteristics revealed that the above effects were more pronounced among private enterprises, firms with higher corporate governance levels, and smaller-scale enterprises. Fifth, heterogeneity analyses based on external institutional environments showed that the policy's positive effect on capacity utilization was stronger under conditions of higher marketization, non-coastal regional locations, and operation in strategic emerging industries. Sixth, economic consequence tests indicated that after driving capacity utilization improvement, the pilot policy significantly enhanced corporate economic performance, increased social contributions, and expanded employment scale. An innovative extension was made to the academic literature on the economic consequences of artificial intelligence development. Policy references were also provided for the Party and the state regarding the empowerment, strengthening, and expansion of the real economy through artificial intelligence.