Purpose Generative Artificial Intelligence (Gen-AI) has provided new opportunities and challenges in using educational environments for students’ interaction and knowledge acquisition. Based on the expectation–confirmation theory, this paper aims to investigate the effect of different constructs associated with Gen-AI on engagement, satisfaction and word-of-mouth.

Design/methodology/approach We collected data from 508 students in the UK using Qualtrics, a prominent online data collection platform. The conceptual framework was analysed through structural equation modelling.

Findings The findings show that Gen-AI expectation formation and Gen-AI quality help to boost Gen-AI engagement. Further, we found that active engagement positively affects Gen-AI satisfaction and positive word of mouth. The mediating role of Gen-AI expectation confirmation between engagement and the two outcomes, satisfaction and positive word of mouth, was also confirmed. The moderating role of cognitive processing in the relationship between Gen-AI quality and engagement was found.

Originality/value This paper extends the Expectation-Confirmation Theory on how Gen-AI can enhance students’ engagement and satisfaction. Suggestions for future research are derived to advance beyond the confines of the current study and to capture the development in the use of AI in education.