<b>A Unified Model for Innovation and Technology in Education: A Framework for Teachers’ Adoption of AI Tools in Teaching </b><b></b>

In today’s technologically advanced classrooms, artificial intelligence (AI) offers promises of enhanced teaching and personalized learning. Yet integrating AI tools into teaching hinges on teachers’ willingness and ability to adopt these innovations. This study develops and validates the Unified Theory of Innovation and Technology in Education (UNITED) model an integrated framework grounded in the Unified Theory of Acceptance and Use of Technology (UTAUT) and related theories to explain secondary school teachers’ behavioral intent and actual use of AI tools. A descriptive-causal design with structural equation modeling (SEM) was employed, involving 428 secondary teachers in Northern Mindanao, Philippines. Results confirmed an excellent-fitting model explaining teachers’ AI adoption. Perceived usefulness of AI and social influence emerged as significant positive predictors of teachers’ intention to adopt AI tools, while perceived ease of use showed no direct effect on intention. Facilitating conditions (infrastructure and support) proved critical for translating intention into actual AI use in the classroom. The final UNITED model unifies multiple technology acceptance constructs, offering both theoretical and practical insights. We recommend targeted professional development to boost teachers’ AI competencies and improved institutional support to foster effective AI integration in education.