Who Am I as a Learner in the Age of Artificial Intelligence?: Exploring University Students' Identity Construction in AI-Mediated Learning

Abstract

The rapid integration of artificial intelligence (AI) into higher education has transformed how students access information, engage with learning tasks, and construct knowledge. While previous studies have primarily focused on the adoption, effectiveness, and ethical implications of AI-assisted learning, limited attention has been given to how AI influences students’ identities as learners. This study explores how university students construct their learner identities in the era of artificial intelligence. Employing a qualitative phenomenological design, the study involved six higher education students who regularly used generative AI technologies to support their academic learning. Data were collected through semi-structured interviews and a focus group discussion and analyzed using inductive thematic analysis. The findings revealed four interconnected themes: becoming an AI-enhanced learner, negotiating independence and dependence in learning, redefining competence and expertise, and envisioning future-ready learner identities. Participants perceived AI as a learning companion that enhanced their capabilities while simultaneously requiring them to negotiate issues of autonomy, responsibility, and authenticity. The findings further indicated that students increasingly defined competence in terms of critical evaluation and effective human-AI collaboration rather than information acquisition alone. Moreover, participants’ engagement with AI was strongly connected to their aspirations for future academic and professional participation. The study contributes to the growing literature on AI in higher education by highlighting the identity-related dimensions of AI-mediated learning and offering insights into what it means to be a learner in an increasingly AI-driven educational landscape.