The relation between openness to experience and AI acceptance among university students: the chain mediation role of AI trust and AI anxiety

To explore the relationship between openness to experience and artificial intelligence (AI) acceptance, as well as its underlying mechanisms, this study utilized the openness to experience dimension of the Big Five Personality Scale, the AI Trust Scale, the AI Anxiety Scale, and the AI Acceptance Scale to survey 716 university students. The findings revealed that: (1) openness to experience positively predicts AI acceptance; (2) AI trust mediates the relationship between openness to experience and AI acceptance; (3) AI anxiety does not play a significant mediating role in the relationship between openness to experience and AI acceptance; and (4) AI trust and AI anxiety jointly act as chain mediators in the relationship between openness to experience and AI acceptance. This study clarifies the roles of AI trust and AI anxiety in the relationship between openness to experience and AI acceptance, providing important insights into the psychological factors influencing AI acceptance and ways to enhance it.