Artificial Intelligence Tool Usage and Entrepreneurial Intentions: A Study of TVET University Students

Abstract

This study examined the influence of artificial intelligence (AI) tool usage on entrepreneurial intentions among Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) university students in Malaysia. Grounded in the Unified Theory of Acceptance and Use of Technology 2 (UTAUT2) and the Theory of Planned Behavior (TPB), the study aims to identify key factors influencing AI tool usage, determine their relationship with entrepreneurial intention, and identify the most significant predictor. A quantitative research approach was adopted, and data were collected through an online questionnaire from 384 students across four Malaysian TVET universities (UTHM, UniMAP, UMP, and UTEM). The study applied multiple regression analysis and correlation analysis to evaluate the relationships between variables. The findings revealed that hedonic motivation was the strongest and most significant predictor of entrepreneurial intention, followed by subjective norm and effort expectancy. In contrast, performance expectancy showed a significant negative relationship, while perceived AI competencies were not statistically significant. The regression model explained 71.6% of the variance in entrepreneurial intention, indicating strong explanatory power. The results suggested that students were more influenced by enjoyment and social factors rather than perceived usefulness or skill confidence in adopting AI for entrepreneurship. The study concluded that fostering intrinsic motivation and positive social influence is essential in promoting AI-driven entrepreneurial intentions among TVET students, with important implications for curriculum design and policy development.