The purpose of this study is to investigate the effects of artificial intelligence (AI) anxiety on entrepreneurial intentions among university students, focusing on the chain-mediating roles of entrepreneurship education and entrepreneurial self-efficacy. This study was conducted with a sample of 494 undergraduate students from five universities in Hubei Province, China, all of whom had participated in entrepreneurship education. The PROCESS macro for SPSS was used to examine (1) the direct effect between artificial intelligence anxiety and entrepreneurial intention, and (2) the chain-mediating roles of entrepreneurship education and entrepreneurial self-efficacy in this relationship. The results show four key findings. First, AI anxiety positively influences university students' entrepreneurial intention. Second, entrepreneurship education serves as an independent mediator in this relationship. Third, entrepreneurial self-efficacy also independently mediates this relationship. Fourth, a sequential mediation pathway exists where AI anxiety increases entrepreneurship education, which enhances entrepreneurial self-efficacy and ultimately strengthens entrepreneurial intention. This study clarifies the pathway through which AI anxiety impacts entrepreneurial intention by proposing a chain mediation model that integrates entrepreneurship education and entrepreneurial self-efficacy, providing theoretical support for entrepreneurship education interventions in the AI era. 

Keywords : Artificial intelligence anxiety, Entrepreneurial intention, Entrepreneurship education, Entrepreneurial self-efficacy, Chain mediating effect