A Survey-Based Study of Artificial Intelligence Literacy Among Chinese University Students

As artificial intelligence (AI) technologies continue to transform education, fostering AI literacy among university students has become increasingly important. Despite growing interest in AI-related education, empirical research on university students’ AI literacy, particularly in the Chinese higher education context, remains limited. This study aims to examine the current state of AI literacy among Chinese university students through a survey-based approach. Grounded in five dimensions—AI knowledge, skills, ethics, thinking, and collaboration—the study surveyed 83 undergraduate students. The results indicate that while students possess a foundational level of AI literacy, there is considerable room for development. Positive correlations among all five dimensions suggest a mutually reinforcing relationship in students’ AI engagement. Specifically, students with greater awareness of AI applications tend to demonstrate stronger collaborative learning abilities, and those who recognize the interdisciplinary nature of AI show greater attentiveness to its advancements. These findings underscore the need for more integrated and dimensionally balanced AI literacy education in higher education contexts.

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