The present study was conducted with the aim of identifying and explaining the applications of artificial intelligence (AI) in enhancing international marketing intelligence, with a focus on export development. In terms of its objective, this research is applied, and in terms of its nature, it is categorized as qualitative research with an exploratory approach. The required data were collected through semi-structured interviews with 14 experts in the field of international marketing, senior managers of exporting companies, and information technology specialists in Tehran and Ilam (the Mehran border terminal and the Iraqi market), who were selected using purposive and snowball sampling methods. The data analysis process was performed using the thematic analysis method. The research findings led to the identification of 4 overarching themes and 18 organizing themes. The extracted overarching themes include “Smartening Market Cognition and Analysis,” “Technological and Data-Driven Export Infrastructure,” “Enhancing Decision-Making and Strategic Agility,” and “Enhancing Marketing Performance and Export Competitive Advantage.” The results indicated that AI reinforces the foundation of marketing intelligence through intelligent competitor analysis and demand forecasting in target markets, and by reducing reliance on intuitive decision-making, it increases the organization’s responsiveness to environmental fluctuations. Furthermore, it was found that the effective utilization of this technology requires organizational digital maturity and the integration of commercial data, which ultimately leads to an improved international customer experience and the creation of a sustainable competitive advantage. Based on the results, it is suggested that managers of exporting companies smarten their global market entry process by investing in data-driven infrastructures and providing analytical skill training for human resources.