Artificial intelligence painting tools (AIPT) are increasingly integrated into creative practices, yet designers' willingness to adopt them remains underexplored. This study applies the artificial intelligence device use acceptance (AIDUA) model, grounded in cognitive appraisal theory, to investigate factors influencing designers' acceptance of AIPT. Using survey data from 480 respondents and structural equation modeling (SEM), we examined the interplay of supportive factors (perceived usefulness (PU), hedonic motivation (HM), social influence (SI), trust (TRU)) and opposing factors (perceived risk (PR)). Results indicate that hedonic motivation significantly reduces PR, while social consensus enhances trust, both of which shape attitude (ATT) and intentions toward AIPT. Theoretically, this study extends AIDUA to the creative domain, highlighting its value for explaining ambivalent adoption behavior. Practically, the findings provide actionable insights for developers and educators to enhance AIPT acceptance by addressing risk perceptions, improving transparency, and fostering supportive user communities.
Li et al. (2026) studied this question.