Does preexposure to AI resources in home country predict adoption of generative artificial intelligence tools amongst international students at Oklahoma State University?

This study investigates whether international students’ preexposure to artificial intelligence (AI) resources in their home countries predicts their adoption of generative AI tools at Oklahoma State University. As generative AI tools become increasingly popular in higher education, it is imperative to understand the adoption patterns among international students as they bring diverse technological backgrounds to their host universities. Using a quantitative survey design (N=72), we examined the relationship between prior AI experiences and current generative AI experiences, while controlling factors such as university AI Policy, perceived usefulness, and self-efficacy. Results indicate that students with greater preexposure to AI in their home countries were significantly likely to adopt generative AI tools for academic and personal purposes (β = 0.166. SE = 0.081, p = 0.043). However, adoption rates varied based on factors such as university’s support for generative AI use and self-efficacy level of students. This study contributes to the literature on technology adoption in cross-cultural educational contexts and offers practical insights for universities seeking to support diverse student populations in developing AI competencies. Recommendations include strong institutional support for generative AI tools to boost the confidence of students as this enhances the self-efficacy of international students to AI tools for academic purposes.