Enhancing college students’ AI literacy through human-AI co-creation: a quantitative study

As artificial intelligence-generated content (AIGC) is widely used, the interaction model between humans and artificial intelligence (AI) is undergoing a fundamental shift from “use” to “co-creation”. This study employed quantitative methods to survey 401 Chinese college students in order to investigate the factors that motivate college students to co-create with AI, as well as the relationship between AI co-creation behaviors and their AI literacy. The research findings indicate that students’ trust in AI, along with their Technology Readiness Index (TRI), as well as the factors of explainability and personalization of AI, have a significant positive impact on college students’ intention and behavior to co-create with artificial intelligence. Moreover, the act of co-creation significantly amplifies AI literacy among students. The study elucidates that a robust trust in AI, coupled with a high Technology Readiness Index (TRI), as well as the AI’s capacity for explainability and personalization, are key drivers propelling college students’ eagerness and engagement in co-creation with AI. Engaging in the process of co-creation not only enhances AI literacy but also acts as a critical conduit, mediating the impact of both individual traits and AI attributes on the acquisition of such literacy.