AI-powered smartphone tools and immigrant social integration. The role of personality and psychological factors

This study investigates the potential of AI-powered mobile applications (m-Integration) to enhance the integration process for immigrants. Leveraging Sen’s capability approach framework and self-determination theory, we explore how the adoption and effectiveness of these applications are influenced by individual factors such as personality traits, self-esteem, resilience, and emotional intelligence. Using quantitative survey data collected from 748 immigrants in Finland—particularly those attending free language classes across five major cities—we examine how AI-driven tools support societal integration in a country facing workforce shortages due to an aging population and an influx of immigrants from conflict zones such as Ukraine and Russia. By employing ordinary least squares (OLS) regression models, we analyze the determinants of AI-powered application use and its impact on integration outcomes measured by the Ethnosizer index. The findings reveal that AI-powered applications facilitate smoother and more efficient integration processes, with attitudes toward these technologies strongly linked to personality and psychological profiles. Immigrants exhibiting high levels of openness, conscientiousness, extraversion, resilience, self-esteem, and emotional intelligence are more likely to adopt and benefit from these tools. This study provides novel insights into the intersection of AI technology and immigrant integration, offering policy-makers evidence-based strategies to leverage AI to promote social inclusion and address integration challenges in diverse populations. • AI mobile apps aid immigrant integration via resilience and emotional intelligence. • M-Integration adoption relates to openness, conscientiousness, and extraversion. • AI tools ease integration; attitudes shaped by self-esteem and emotions. • Offers insights for policymakers to harness AI for social inclusion.