The Generative Artificial Intelligence (GenAI) Divide
Exploring the Individual Factors Influencing GenAI Competency, Adoption Readiness, and Psychological Barriers
Bibliographic Data
| ID | 17820964 |
|---|---|
| Authors | C Ball (0000-0003-3241-2985, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, corresponding author), Kuo-Ting Huang (0000-0001-5426-558X, University of Pittsburgh), Xuan Nie (0009-0006-5737-3985, University of Pittsburgh), Elaine Kong (University of Pittsburgh), J M Shalani Dilinika (University of Pittsburgh) |
| Year | 2026 |
| Volume | 29 |
| Issue | 3 |
| Pages | 184-191 |
| Publication date | 2026-02-17 |
| Peer Reviewed | Yes |
| Open Access | Yes |
| Type | ARTICLE |
| Venue | Cyberpsychology Behavior and Social Networking (JOURNAL) |
| Journal identifiers | ISSN: 2152-2715 • E-ISSN: 2152-2723 |
| Publisher | Mary Ann Liebert, Inc (PUBLISHER • US) |
| DOI | 10.1177/21522715261423789 |
| PMID | 41700636 |
| OpenAlex | W7129254015 |
| Language | EN |
| References cited | 48 |
Generative artificial intelligence (GenAI), a branch of AI capable of producing novel content from human input, is poised to transform various aspects of society. However, the benefits and challenges of GenAI adoption are not equally distributed, contributing to a new layer of digital inequality, the GenAI divide. This study examines the individual factors associated with psychological barriers, GenAI competency, and adoption readiness. Using data from a stratified online survey of 305 participants, the study explores sociodemographic variables (e.g., sex, age, race, education, and income), as well as competency factors (e.g., operational and creative skills) and psychological factors (e.g., attitudes toward AI, GenAI decision reliance, and self-efficacy). Findings reveal that operational skills and comfort with AI were significantly associated with lower anxiety and higher adoption readiness, whereas negative technology attitudes were associated with increased barriers. Furthermore, greater reliance on GenAI for decision-making was associated with lower self-assessed competency, suggesting a compensatory mechanism in which less confident users may increasingly depend on automated recommendations. These results highlight the multi-dimensional nature of the GenAI divide, emphasizing the interplay between individual-level factors and inequality-related outcomes. The study underscores the need for targeted interventions, such as AI literacy programs and supportive digital communities, to address these disparities and promote equitable access to the benefits of GenAI. By identifying key factors associated with GenAI adoption, this research contributes to a deeper understanding of digital inequality in the age of generative AI technologies
Anxiety · Digital Literacy · Emotional intelligence · Generative grammar · Survey data collection · AI in Service Interactions · Artificial Intelligence in Healthcare and Education · Ethics and Social Impacts of AI
The Deepening Divide
The Digital Divide
The impact of generative artificial intelligence on socioeconomic inequalities and policy making
The Potential of Generative Artificial Intelligence Across Disciplines
Generative AI in Higher Education
Conceptualizing and Testing a Social Cognitive Model of the Digital Divide
Opinion Paper
Internet Addiction Prevalence and Quality of (Real) Life
The dark side of generative artificial intelligence
Supporting Teachers and Students
Internet Use by People with Intellectual Disability
The impact of Generative AI (GenAI) on practices, policies and research direction in education
Attachment and trust in artificial intelligence
The relationship of interactive technology use for entertainment and school performance and engagement
Artificial intelligence in developing countries
The digital divide
To be or not to be algorithm aware
Development and validation of the Internet Skills Scale (ISS)
Digital inequalities in the age of artificial intelligence and big data
Development and validation of an artificial intelligence anxiety scale
Race, Gender, and Information Technology Use
Second-Level Digital Divide
Just having a computer doesn’t make sense’
The digital divide in the US criminal justice system
The Digital Divide as a Complex and Dynamic Phenomenon
Digital divide research, achievements and shortcomings
| Citation velocity | historical |
|---|---|
| Highly cited | No |