Acceptance of artificial intelligence and its effect on entrepreneurial intention in foreign trade students: a mirror analysis

Artificial intelligence (AI) has experienced a significant increase in its application in the educational field worldwide. This study aimed to analyze the acceptance of AI and its effect on the entrepreneurial intentions of international trade university students in Peru and Ecuador. With a quantitative approach and a non-experimental applied design, an online survey was administered to international trade students from Peru and Ecuador. Amos version 24 software was used to obtain model fit indices and perform gender-based invariance tests. Additionally, SmartPLS statistical software, based on the partial least squares (PLS) technique, was employed to test the hypotheses of the structural equation model (SEM). The measurement model presented acceptable fit indices. When calculating invariance, the configural, metric, and scalar models were satisfactory, although the residual model was not confirmed. It was found that hedonic motivation, habit, and performance expectations influenced international trade students’ intention to use AI. Likewise, it was discovered that the intention to use AI tools has an effect on entrepreneurial intention. Gender and age did not moderate the effect of AI usage intention on entrepreneurial intention. The study provides empirical evidence on the acceptance of AI and its influence on students’ entrepreneurial intentions, offering valuable information for educators, policymakers, and technology developers in the educational field.