AI chatbots' impact on self-reliance and adoption: A study applied to educational institutions

Abstract

AI chatbots are becoming essential within contemporary education, significantly influencing student engagement and learning processes. They provide personalized support by delivering instant resources designed for individual learning styles and needs, enabling students to study subjects at their own pace. Therefore, this study seeks to investigate the impact of AI chatbots on self-reliance, their role in enhancing educational outcomes, and the factors influencing their adoption. A random sample of 384 questionnaires was collected from students enrolled in Jordanian universities. Data were collected through an online survey conducted from June to September 2025. The study's hypotheses were tested using SPSS for regression analyses of sub-hypotheses and PLS-SEM for the primary hypotheses. The results reveal that various dimensions of AI chatbots positively impact both self-reliance and the adoption of these tools, both individually and collectively, suggesting that their effective implementation can enhance learning outcomes and student engagement in educational settings. These results emphasize the significance of AI chatbots in fostering self-reliance and their adoption. The study advises integrating AI tools into the educational process while maintaining a balance with traditional teaching methods, as this approach can enhance learning outcomes and ensure that students benefit from both innovative and established educational strategies.