Background In the context of educational digital transformation, AI precision feedback has emerged as a critical technological support for optimizing college students’ cognitive development. As a key dimension of core competencies, thinking shaping ability directly impacts academic progress and lifelong learning capabilities. Methods To elucidate the mechanism of AI precision feedback in shaping students’ thinking shaping ability, this study conducted a mediation analysis with 1,079 college students using path analysis, Bootstrap sampling, and moderation testing. The research constructed a mediation model: “AI precision feedback → intrinsic value identification → thinking shaping ability,” incorporating critical consciousness transformation as a moderating variable. Results Results revealed: (1) AI precision feedback significantly enhances thinking shaping ability (standardized coefficient = 0.561, p 0.001); (2) Intrinsic value identification partially mediates this relationship mediation effect = 0.153, accounting for 32.01% of total effect; 95% Bootstrap CI = (0.061, 0.284); (3) Critical consciousness transformation significantly moderates the relationship between intrinsic value identification and college students’ thinking shaping ability (interaction ** p = 0.040), and the transformation of high critical consciousness can strengthen the promoting effect of intrinsic value identification on thinking shaping ability. Conclusion This study enriches the theoretical framework for AI education and cognitive cultivation, providing empirical evidence and practical guidance for universities to optimize AI technology applications and precisely enhance students’ cognitive literacy.
Sun et al. (Wed,) studied this question.