The use of artificial intelligence in education (AIEd) has become increasingly significant globally. In China, there is a lack of research examining the behavioral intention toward AIEd among pre-service special education (SPED) teachers in terms of digital literacy and teacher self-efficacy. Building on the technology acceptance model, our study evaluated the aspects influencing pre-service special education teachers' intention toward AI in education. Data was gathered from 274 pre-service SPED teachers studying at a Chinese public normal university of special education and analyzed using structural equation modeling (SEM). The results show that digital literacy is associated with the perceived usefulness and ease of use of AIEd, which influences SPED teachers' intention to use AIEd. Additionally, digital literacy significantly impacts the self-efficacy of SPED teachers. Given these results, AI designers in special education should comprehend the effectiveness and usability of AIEd for fostering behavioral intention formation. Simultaneously, special educational programs that identify key content and activities for digital literacy training should be developed, and educators should attempt to execute the relevant pre-service training to enhance the intention of pre-service SPED teachers toward AIEd.