GenAI Adoption in Entrepreneurial Education and Digital Entrepreneurial Intention: A Moderated Mediation Analysis of University Entrepreneurial Climate and Attitudes toward Digital Entrepreneurship

Abstract

This study examines the impact of Generative Artificial Intelligence (GenAI) adoption in entrepreneurial education on digital entrepreneurial intention, with attitudes toward digital entrepreneurship as a mediator and university entrepreneurial climate as a moderator. A quantitative research design was employed using a cross-sectional survey of university students (N=412). Data was analyzed using Structural Equation Modeling (SEM) to examine direct, indirect, and interaction effects. The results revealed that GenAI adoption has a significant positive effect on digital entrepreneurial intention (β = 0.28, p < 0.001). Attitudes toward digital entrepreneurship significantly mediated this relationship, with an indirect effect of β = 0.26 (p < 0.001), indicating partial mediation. The university entrepreneurial climate significantly moderated the relationship between GenAI adoption and entrepreneurial intention (β = 0.15, p < 0.01), suggesting that a supportive institutional environment strengthens the positive impact of GenAI adoption. The overall model explained 58% of the variance in digital entrepreneurial intention (R² = 0.58), demonstrating substantial explanatory power. These findings underscore the importance of integrating advanced AI technologies with supportive educational environments to foster entrepreneurial mindsets among students. This study contributes to the literature by offering a comprehensive moderated mediation framework that explains how technological, psychological, and contextual factors interact to shape digital entrepreneurial intentions. Practical implications are provided for educators and policymakers in designing effective AI-driven entrepreneurial education programs.