The AI-powered entrepreneur: how ChatGPT adoption amplifies the impact of education on digital entrepreneurial intention via self-efficacy and perceived control?

Digital transformation is reshaping entrepreneurship and the educational ecosystem. It creates new opportunities but also raises questions about the psychological mechanisms that shape digital entrepreneurship intentions and the role of artificial intelligence tools. This study aims to test an integrated model of planned behavior theory and social cognitive theory to assess the role of ChatGPT adoption on entrepreneurship education and digital entrepreneurial intention. Data were collected via an online survey of 718 university students across various fields and analyzed using structural equation modeling with SmartPLS 4. The results show that entrepreneurship education enhances perceived behavioral control and self-efficacy. At the same time, both factors promote digital entrepreneurship intentions, with perceived behavioral control being a stronger predictor. Notably, ChatGPT adoption strengthens the TPB - SCT framework by enhancing perceived behavioral control and self-efficacy, thereby reinforcing the psychological mechanisms underlying digital entrepreneurial intention. This study suggests directions for building entrepreneurship education programs that incorporate AI technology to improve training efficiency.