Gen AI – My Friend Indeed: An Empirical Study of Indian Students’ Perspectives through UTAUT2 Lens

Generative Artificial Intelligence (Gen AI) tools like ChatGPT, gemini and Copilot are reshaping the academic experience of higher education students around the world. The adoption and experimentation of Gen AI tools in Indian institutions of higher education have increased tremendously. This paper analyzed the predictors of Gen AI adoption, using the Unified Theory of Acceptance and Use of Technology 2 (UTAUT2) framework, with a sample of 612 students studying in various higher education institutions in Greater Noida. This study used a Random Forest technique to determine the most significant predictors influencing the intention of students to adopt and maintain the use of Gen AI. The findings shows that Performance Expectancy, Hedonic Motivation, and Facilitating Conditions are the significant predictors whereas Price Value and Social Influence are not significant enough, which is the contradiction to previous UTAUT2 research studies. The study also addresses the theoretical and practical implications along with limitations and future research directions.