Artificial Intelligence Competence of K-12 Students Shapes Their AI Risk Perception: A Co-occurrence Network Analysis

TL;DR

This study explores how Finnish K-12 students' self-perceived AI competence influences their perception of AI risks, revealing that competence levels shape risk focus and highlighting the importance of AI literacy in education.

Contribution

It introduces a co-occurrence network analysis to link students' AI competence with their risk perceptions, emphasizing the role of self-assessment in understanding AI attitudes.

Findings

Lower competence students focus on personal risks like misuse and creativity loss.

Higher competence students emphasize systemic risks such as bias and inaccuracy.

Differences suggest tailored AI literacy education is needed.

Abstract

As artificial intelligence (AI) becomes increasingly integrated into education, understanding how students perceive its risks is essential for supporting responsible and effective adoption. This research aimed to examine the relationships between perceived AI competence and risks among Finnish K-12 upper secondary students (n = 163) by utilizing a co-occurrence analysis. Students reported their self-perceived AI competence and concerns related to AI across systemic, institutional, and personal domains. The findings showed that students with lower competence emphasized personal and learning-related risks, such as reduced creativity, lack of critical thinking, and misuse, whereas higher-competence students focused more on systemic and institutional risks, including bias, inaccuracy, and cheating. These differences suggest that students' self-reported AI competence is related to how they evaluate both the risks and opportunities associated with artificial intelligence in education (AIED). The results of this study highlight the need for educational institutions to incorporate AI literacy into their curricula, provide teacher guidance, and inform policy development to ensure personalized opportunities for utilization and equitable integration of AI into K-12 education.