Educators’ Networking Interacts with Digital Competence Heterogeneity to Enhance the Implementation of AIEd: A Mixed‐Methods Study

AI-enabled digital technology has demonstrated significant value in promoting high-quality education and eliminating educational disparities. However, effectively integrating this technology into teaching practices still remains a challenge for most countries. Educators’ limited digital competencies, coupled with insufficient attention paid to the process of “human-AI integration”, have resulted in a superficial implementation of AI-enabled education (AIEd) and the emergence of a new digital use divide. Therefore, the purpose of our study is to explore the key factors influencing AIEd implementation. Using qualitative research methods and agent-based modeling simulation techniques, we have discovered that the interaction between individual digital competence and educator network connectivity have significant impact on technology adoption and educational outcomes. Our findings provide theoretical hypotheses for future empirical studies and suggest that harnessing the value of collective intelligence through decentralized digital networks is a feasible governance strategy for advancing AI-enabled education and promoting high-quality and balanced development of education.