ETHICAL AI IN ENTREPRENEURIAL EDUCATION: BALANCING INNOVATION WITH RESPONSIBILITY

The rapid integration of artificial intelligence (AI) into the education sector has presented an opportunity to develop entrepreneurial skills. However, it also raises some ethical concerns that should be thoroughly evaluated. This paper discusses the role of innovation, responsibility, ethical responsibility and AI literacy in entrepreneurial intention, where the role of introducing responsibility is a mediating variable under analysis. A questionnaire was administered to 350 university students in a structured format. The raw data were analysed using Partial Least Squares Structural Equation Modelling (PLS-SEM). The results indicate a significant and positive influence of innovation (β = 0.342, p < 0.001), responsibility (β = 0.278, p = 0.002), ethical awareness (β = 0.199, p = 0.001), and AI literacy (β = 0.145, p = 0.013) on entrepreneurial intention. Additionally, indirect mediation by responsibility ensures that the relationships between innovation (β = 0.114, p < 0.001) and ethical awareness (β = 0.099, p = 0.001), as well as between entrepreneurial intention and these variables, are significant. These findings suggest that the factors of innovation and ethical perception are essential, but improvement in these without responsible behaviour is not effective. The study recommends that entrepreneurship programs should incorporate ethics and AI literacy to empower students to engage in sustainable and innovative entrepreneurial activities. The concept of innovation and accountability would ensure that greater education centres produce visionary and morally upright entrepreneurs.