AI Literacy and Entrepreneurial Mindset as Drivers of Entrepreneurial Behaviour: A Digital Intention Perspective

Mohanad Mohammed Sufyan Ghaleb

Department of Management, College of Business, King Faisal University, Al-Ahsa 31982, Saudi Arabia.

Suzanie Adina Mat Saat

Assistant Professor, Department of Marketing, College of Business Administration, Prince Sultan University, Rafha Street, Riyadh 11586, Saudi Arabia

Abstract

This study examines how AI literacy and entrepreneurial mindset influence digital entrepreneurial intention and entrepreneurial behaviour, while investigating the mediating role of digital entrepreneurial intention and the moderating roles of AI anxiety and perceived educational support. Drawing on Social Cognitive Career Theory, the study develops an integrated framework explaining how individual capabilities, entrepreneurial cognition, psychological conditions, and educational context shape entrepreneurial outcomes. A quantitative, cross-sectional research design was employed, with data collected from 259 undergraduate and postgraduate students enrolled in business, management, and entrepreneurship programs. Established measurement scales were adopted from previous research. Data were analyzed using SmartPLS 4 through partial least squares structural equation modelling. The analysis assessed measurement reliability and validity and tested direct, mediation, and moderation relationships using bootstrapping procedures. The findings demonstrate that AI literacy and entrepreneurial mindset positively influence both digital entrepreneurial intention and entrepreneurial behaviour. Digital entrepreneurial intention positively influences entrepreneurial behaviour and significantly mediates the relationships of AI literacy and entrepreneurial mindset with entrepreneurial behaviour. AI anxiety does not significantly moderate the relationship between AI literacy and digital entrepreneurial intention but significantly weakens the relationship between entrepreneurial mindset and digital entrepreneurial intention. Perceived educational support strengthens the relationship between digital entrepreneurial intention and entrepreneurial behaviour. The study contributes to entrepreneurship literature by integrating AI literacy, entrepreneurial mindset, digital entrepreneurial intention, AI anxiety, and perceived educational support within a unified theoretical framework. The findings extend Social Cognitive Career Theory to an AI enabled entrepreneurial context and highlight the importance of developing AI competencies and supportive educational environments to facilitate entrepreneurial behaviour.

AI Literacy, Entrepreneurial Mindset, Digital Entrepreneurial Intention, Entrepreneurial Behaviour, AI Anxiety