Adoption of AI chatbots among medical students: integration of AI literacy and information literacy within the theory of planned behavior

Purpose Artificial intelligence (AI) chatbots have gained significant attention in the field of education, particularly in medical training and learning. This study aims to measure the AI chatbots adoption among medical students by extending the theory of planned behavior (TPB). The research examines the key determinants such as perceived behavioral control (PBC), past behavior (PB), subjective norms (SN), information literacy (IL), AI literacy and behavioral intention (BI). Design/methodology/approach A structured questionnaire was distributed among medical students for data collection. Participants received 400 copies of the questionnaire and the consent form to take part in the study. A total of 326 individuals returned the completed surveys, yielding an 81.5% response rate. 310 (77.5%) valid responses of the 326 questionnaires used for data analysis. To analyze the data, SPSS v26 (IBM) was used along with moment structure analysis (AMOS). Findings Findings indicated that PBC, PB and BI significantly influence AI chatbots adoption among medical students. However, the relationships of IL and AI literacy are positive and insignificant, while the relationship of SN is negative and insignificant. Research limitations/implications The study’s insights are beneficial for educators, policymakers and AI software developers seeking to enhance the use of AI chatbots in educational settings. Originality/value This study adds to the literature on the use of AI in education by analyzing the impact of TPB on predictive factors of using chatbots.