Feeling the Future: Indonesian Students’ Sentiments Toward Generative Artificial Intelligence for Learning

• In Event: How Students Engage with GenAI: From Resistance to Empowerment

Abstract

This study explores Indonesian university students’ emotional responses to generative AI (genAI) in learning by applying sentiment analysis using the National Research Council of Canada's (NRC) Emotion Lexicon. Drawing on survey data from 902 students across 113 public and private universities, it examines how emotions such as trust, fear, and anticipation shape attitudes toward genAI. Results show both groups generally expressed positive sentiments, though public university students were more likely to report strong trust and fear. Emotional trends varied by institutional type, revealing how socioeconomic and infrastructural differences influence students’ perceptions. By integrating statistical and qualitative insights, the study uncovers how affective and structural factors can jointly shape students’ engagements with genAI for their learning.

Authors

• Aziz Awaludin, University of Wisconsin - Madison

• Ibrahim -, Monash University

• Ahmad Ardillah Rahman, University College London - IOE