The Impact of Boredom on College Students’ Willingness to Use Generative Artificial Intelligence

Generative AI (GAI) is widely used among college students. However, limited research has explored how boredom—a commonly experienced negative emotion in this population—influence their willingness to use such technology. Drawing on the Technology Acceptance Model (TAM), this study develops a theoretical framework that integrates boredom, perceived usefulness, perceived ease of use, novelty experience, and Willingness to use. Based on a quantitative approach, data were collected from 337 college students through both online and offline channels. The results reveal a sequential pathway linking boredom to willingness to use, sequentially mediated by perceived usefulness, perceived ease of use, and novelty experience. Theoretically, this study extends the TAM by incorporating a negative affective factor (Boredom) and the mediating role of novelty. Practically, the results provide valuable implications for AI developers to improve product experiences, and for higher education institutions to better guide students’ intentional and informed use of generative AI products.