Exploring perceptions of Indian graduates on the effectiveness of artificial intelligence in higher education campus hiring

This study examines graduates’ perceptions of AI-powered recruitment tools, focusing on factors influencing their intention and engagement. The study uses TAM as a theoretical model to explore which factors impact graduates’ willingness to engage with AI-powered campus hiring tools. A quantitative approach was adopted, with data collected through a structured survey of 388 graduating students. The data was analysed using SPSS, and hypotheses were tested through regression and mediation analysis. The study evaluates the direct effects of trust, usefulness, AI fairness, and technological anxiety on engagement intention and their indirect effects on actual engagement through mediation analysis. The findings indicate that trust, usefulness, and AI fairness positively influence graduates’ intention to engage with AI-powered campus recruitment tools, whereas technological anxiety has a negative impact. Additionally, engagement intention significantly predicts actual engagement. The mediation analysis confirms that the intention to engage is a critical link between graduates’ perceptions of AI and their engagement with AI-powered campus recruitment tools. The study provides Valuable insights for organisations, educational institutions, and AI developers. Employers integrating AI into campus recruitment should focus on building trust, enhancing perceived usefulness, and ensuring fairness to improve adoption rates. Universities should promote AI literacy programs to mitigate technological anxiety and prepare students for AI-based hiring processes. Additionally, AI developers should design transparent, explainable, and user-friendly recruitment tools to encourage engagement. This study is among the few empirical investigations into graduates’ engagement with AI-powered hiring tools, addressing an emerging area in recruitment research. It provides evidence-based insights for HR practitioners, educators, and AI designers, emphasising the need for trustworthy, ethical, and user-friendly AI recruitment systems.