The Dual Impact of AI Adoption on College Students’ Academic Performance in Music Education: Evidence from China

Artificial Intelligence (AI) has fundamentally transformed knowledge production and dissemination. It has revolutionized educational paradigms, especially in music education. AI adoption is a transformative force, reshaping the teaching and learning landscape. This study examined the relationship between AI adoption and academic performance in music education. Data were collected from 624 questionnaires at 66 institutions. We analyzed the data with SPSS 25.0, Mplus 8.0, and HLM 7.0. The findings include: (1) AI adoption is positively correlated with students’ academic performance. (2) Academic self-efficacy mediates the relationship between AI adoption and academic performance. (3) AI dependency also acts as a mediator between AI adoption and academic performance. (4) Academic self-efficacy and AI dependency together have a chain-mediating effect between AI adoption and academic performance. (5) Organizational AI readiness is positively associated with students’ academic performance. (6) Organizational AI readiness moderates the relationship between AI adoption and academic performance. These findings enrich music education theories and provide actionable insights for enhancing the academic performance of music majors. Plain Language Summary The Dual Impact of AI Adoption on College Students’ Academic Performance in Music Education Artificial intelligence (AI) is transforming the way music is taught and learned. But how exactly does using AI affect music students’ grades? This study surveyed 624 students from 66 colleges to investigate the issue. The results show that using AI tools does help students perform better academically, primarily by boosting their confidence in learning (academic self-efficacy). However, an overreliance on AI can also play a role. Importantly, the support and readiness of the school itself are crucial; schools well-prepared for AI not only see better student performance but also maximize the positive impact of AI adoption. In short, AI serves as a powerful booster for music education, and schools play a crucial role in ensuring this technology is utilized effectively to help students succeed.