AI literacy and digital well-being are important for students' academic success. This study investigated the influence of AI literacy and digital well-being on motivation for collaborative learning, achievement motivation and growth mind of intelligence among a sample of 2007 Chinese and South African students. A cross-sectional quantitative research approach was employed. Using a structural equation modelling, the results of the study revealed that AI literacy and digital well-being significantly influenced collaborative learning, achievement motivation and growth mind of intelligence. The results imply that AI literacy and digital well-being are crucial for cultivating higher education students' motivational factors and growth mindset of intelligence for study success.