The role of artificial intelligence in promoting university students' psychological well-being: State of the art and future perspectives

University life exposes students to considerable academic pressure and a range of personal challenges that can compromise mental health, increasing the likelihood of psychological difficulties and potentially hindering both educational progress and future career development. Within this context, existing research consistently highlights the need for interventions that can anticipate emotional problems among university students and respond both effectively and promptly, allowing individuals to manage emerging crises before they escalate. In recent years, artificial intelligence has gained attention as a promising resource for predicting emotional difficulties among students and for delivering personalised support. AI systems can process information from multiple sources to detect early signs of distress, offering a level of immediacy and precision that traditional services often cannot provide. These developments have encouraged researchers to explore how AI might help universities offer more accessible and responsive mental health support. Accordingly, this brief report reviews empirical and applied studies examining the use of AI tools such as chatbots, emotion recognition systems, and wearable technologies to support the psychological well-being of university students. The aim is to identify which technologies appear most effective, to clarify current opportunities and limitations, and to outline directions for future research.