Purpose This study aims to examine how perceived benefits and risks of technology (GenAI) relate to students’ adoption intentions, which in turn are associated with their development of entrepreneurial skills. The research also uses entrepreneurial opportunity recognition and entrepreneurial competencies as moderator variables. Design/methodology/approach The data were collected from students across 15 nations. The study develops and tests a conceptual model with exogenous and endogenous variables using covariance-based structural equation modeling. The knowledge-based view (KBV) theory supports the theoretical examination across variables. Findings The perceived technological benefits of GenAI are strongly and significantly associated with students’ adoption intentions. Furthermore, the adoption of GenAI as a technology constructively develops students’ entrepreneurial skills. The perceived risks attached to GenAI are not directly linked to students’ GenAI adoption. Entrepreneurial competencies amplify the impact of both perceived benefits and risks of GenAI on students’ adoption intentions, while entrepreneurial opportunity recognition weakens the relationship across perceived GenAI benefits and their intentions to adopt. Practical implications The study highlights the benefits of GenAI technology in academia, directly enhancing students’ entrepreneurial skills. The benefits and risks associated with the technology (GenAI) provide important implications for academic institutions, learners and policymakers. Originality/value This study strengthens the KBV by demonstrating that GenAI not only works as a technological enabler for users but also as a knowledge resource that enhances their entrepreneurial capabilities in the digital entrepreneurial ecosystem.
Sze et al. (2026) studied this question.