Factors Affecting the Behavioural Intentions of the Users in Adopting Artificial Intelligence (AI) Tools in Higher Education

In the global context, Artificial Intelligence (AI) is rapidly transforming higher education; however, its acceptance among students in developing nations, such as Sri Lanka, remains underexplored. With an emphasis on how specific attributes of AI influence the acceptance and use of AI, this study examines the behavioural intentions of Sri Lankan university students regarding the adoption of AI technologies, guided by the Unified Theory of Acceptance and Use of Technology (UTAUT). The objectives of the research were to (1) identify the attributes of AI technologies that affect undergraduates’ behavioural intention, (2) identify the impact of the attributes of AI technologies that affect undergraduates’ behavioural intention, and (3) identify the impact of attitude on the relationship between those attributes and undergraduates’ behavioural intention. A structured survey questionnaire was circulated among the undergraduate students, and IBM SPSS statistical software was used to analyse the collected data. According to the findings, Performance Expectancy (PE) has a significant positive influence on behavioural intention, while Perceived Risk (PR), Effort Expectancy (EE), and Facilitating Conditions (FC) did not show significant effects. Furthermore, it was discovered that the association between behavioural intention and AI characteristics was partially mediated by attitude (ATT). As the findings suggest, risk perceptions, ease of use, and institutional support appear to have a lesser impact on Sri Lankan undergraduates' readiness to adopt AI than their conviction that it may enhance their academic performance. This study extends the application of UTAUT in the context of Sri Lankan higher education, offering practical implications for universities and policymakers to highlight the academic benefits, foster positive student attitudes, and strategically integrate AI into educational practices.