Advances in Business & Industrial Marketing Research
Vol. 4 No. 2 (2026): February - May

Trust as a Moderator in AI Adoption among Indonesian MSMEs: A Multi-Group Analysis of Necessity versus Opportunity Entrepreneurship

Muhammad Fakhri (Universitas Indonesia, Depok, Indonesia)
Rambat Lupiyoady (Universitas Indonesia, Depok, Indonesia)



Article Info

Publish Date
31 May 2026

Abstract

Purpose: This study aims to examine the moderating role of trust in an extended Unified Theory of Acceptance and Use of Technology (UTAUT) model on artificial intelligence (AI) adoption intention among Indonesian micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs). It also compares the drivers of adoption between necessity-driven and opportunity-driven entrepreneurs. Research Method: This research employed a quantitative cross-sectional survey involving 200 MSME owners in Greater Jakarta selected through purposive sampling. Data were analyzed using Partial Least Squares Structural Equation Modeling (PLS-SEM) and Multi-Group Analysis (MGA) to test direct and moderating effects, and to examine differences between entrepreneurial typologies. Results and Discussion: The findings show that performance expectancy, effort expectancy, and facilitating conditions positively influence AI adoption intention, while personal innovativeness has a significant negative effect, indicating technology intimidation. Trust negatively moderates the effects of performance expectancy and effort expectancy, but positively moderates the effects of facilitating conditions. MGA reveals that performance expectancy and effort expectancy are significant only among opportunity-driven enterprises, whereas facilitating conditions are significant only among necessity-driven enterprises. The model explains 43% of the variance in adoption intention with good predictive relevance. Implications: Policymakers and platform providers should tailor AI adoption strategies by emphasizing efficiency and capability for opportunity-driven MSMEs, while prioritizing infrastructure and support for necessity-driven MSMEs. Originality: This study highlights entrepreneurial typology and trust as contextual factors in AI adoption among Indonesian MSMEs.

Copyrights © 2026






Journal Info

Abbrev

ABIM

Publisher

Subject

Economics, Econometrics & Finance

Description

Founded in 2023, Advances in Business & Industrial Marketing Research publishes original research that promises to advance our understanding of Business & Industrial Marketing over diverse topics and research methods. This Journal welcomes research of significance across a wide range of primary and ...