Enhancing Indonesian Student Wellbeing through Chat AI in the Smart University Learning Environment

This study investigates how AI-powered conversational agents (Chat AI) influence students’ academic and emotional wellbeing within Smart University Learning Environments (SMLE) in Indonesia. The paper extends the UTAUT–SDT framework by integrating psychosocial constructs such as academic resilience, emotional safety, and stress reduction into the AI adoption model. Utilizing data from 304 university students and applying both multivariate regression and decision tree analysis, the study highlights Chat AI’s potential to foster adaptive learning experiences and student resilience. As one of the first empirical studies in the Indonesian context, this research also addresses local digital disparities, sociocultural barriers, and the need for inclusive emotional support in smart education. It offers both theoretical innovation and practical strategies for higher education digital transformation in emerging economies.