Boosting Young Minds with AI: A Fresh Look at Learning and Fun

AI tools are now common in universities, but it is still unclear how using them for study or play affects students’ creative output. A recent investigation focused on Chinese undergraduates studying Traditional Chinese Medicine to untangle these effects. Researchers applied Social Cognitive Theory and gathered data from 271 students, then used statistical techniques to examine the links between AI use, digital skills, and creativity. The study found that both studying with AI and playing games that involve AI help students develop stronger digital competencies. These skills, in turn, boost their creative abilities. When students used AI for learning, digital skills fully explained the rise in creativity. For entertainment‑based use, digital skills only partly accounted for creative gains.Students’ feelings about AI also mattered. Those who liked AI more showed a stronger link between entertainment use and digital skill growth, but their positive view actually dampened the connection between learning‑oriented AI use and skill development. By separating AI purposes, showing how digital skills mediate creativity, and revealing the mixed influence of attitudes, this work adds new insight for educators. It suggests that when designing AI‑enhanced learning in niche fields like Traditional Chinese Medicine, teachers should consider both the type of AI activity and students’ openness to technology.