The role of artificial intelligence in promoting sustainable development: the views of university students in Ghana

Purpose This study aims to investigate the role of artificial intelligence (AI) in fostering sustainable development in Ghana by assessing its applications in various industries and evaluating its influence on academic and economic development based on the views of selected university students in Ghana. Design/methodology/approach The study used the open innovation theory to target university students in Ghana, focusing on the five public universities in the Greater Accra region. A quantitative cross-sectional survey research design was employed, and data were collected from 707 university students through an online survey questionnaire. The Statistical Package for Social Sciences version 23 was used for the data analysis, with descriptive statistical methods and inferential statistics in the form of Chi-square test of independence. Findings Findings showed that the selected students were aware of AI applications in sectors such as healthcare, education and business hence its adoption could drive innovation and entrepreneurship in Ghana. There is no statistically significant relationship between the area of study of students and their awareness as well as level of familiarity with AI. However, there is a statistically significant relationship between the area of study of students and perceived level of knowledge, experience, accessibility, application to different fields, usage and self-driven search on AI. It was also revealed that challenges such as inadequate infrastructure, high costs of AI technologies, shortage of skilled professionals, ethical concerns, data privacy issues and resistance to change remain barriers to AI adoption. Research limitations/implications This study’s limitations include the exclusive use of a quantitative approach, which limits the ability to capture more nuanced perspectives. Also, the focus on university students in the Greater Accra region and the sampling approach may limit generalisability of the findings. Originality/value This study provides unique, context-specific insights into the views of university students in Ghana on the potential of AI to drive sustainable development, with particular focus on its applications in academic and economic development. It also highlights the barriers that must be addressed to ensure successful AI adoption.