What is it about?
As AI use grows in universities, many students remain sceptical. This study develops and validates a scale that measures distrust of AI in entrepreneurship education. It shows that students’ concerns stem from fears about data privacy, doubts about AI’s educational value, and emotional resistance to replacing human teachers.
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Why is it important?
Universities are increasingly using AI tools, but successful adoption depends on understanding students’ concerns. This study helps educators move beyond the simple question of whether students “trust” AI. Instead, it shows what exactly makes them uncomfortable. This is important because different concerns need different responses. Privacy worries require clear data policies. Doubts about AI accuracy require better guidance and verification. Fear of losing human support requires keeping teachers and mentors at the centre of learning.
Perspectives
The scale that we have developed can help teachers, curriculum designers and universities identify where student resistance to AI comes from before introducing new tools. It can also help AI developers design educational technologies that feel safer, clearer and more supportive for students. For researchers, the scale opens the door to comparing AI distrust across countries, disciplines and student groups, and to studying how attitudes toward AI change over time.
Dr. Yelena Smirnova
University of Barcelona
Read the Original
This page is a summary of: Student distrust of AI in entrepreneurship education contexts: development and validation of an empirical scale, Journal of Small Business and Enterprise Development, May 2026, Emerald,
DOI: 10.1108/jsbed-08-2025-0556.
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