Based on the data of listed manufacturing companies from 2011 to 2022, this study empirically investigates the impact of industrial intelligence and technology spillover from associated enterprises on the improvement of total factor productivity. The research findings are as follows: ①Industrial intelligence promotes the improvement of total factor productivity of enterprises, which horizontal technology spillovers between enterprises in the same industry and vertical technology spillovers between enterprises in upstream and downstream industries are conducive to promoting the improvement of total factor productivity of enterprises. ②Industrial intelligence enhances the technology spillover of related enterprises by promoting deeper professional division of labor and efficient matching of the supply and demand among enterprises, thus promoting the improvement of total factor productivity. ③The abundant internal resource conditions of enterprises and the moderate external industry competition environment are conducive to enhancing the productivity empowerment effect of industrial intelligence. Accelerating industrial intelligence leads to a surge in enterprise production costs and management costs, which will lead to the “productivity paradox” to a certain extent.