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This study highlighted the role played by digitalization elements, such as information and communication technology (ICT) adoption, the social internet of things (IoT), and artificial intelligence (AI), in e-learning systems. It also examined the mediating role of digital literacy (DL) and pedagogical digital competence (PDC) and the potential moderating role of technostress (TS). A total of 262 responses to survey questionnaires were received from the IT administrators who worked under the directorate of information technology in top QS ranking Malaysian universities; the survey data was then analyzed through PLS-SEM. The study findings revealed that ICT adoption and the social IoT considerably impact e-learning systems and highlighted that artificial intelligence also has a partial impact. Digital literacy and pedagogical digital competence also significantly mediated the relationships between ICT adoption, artificial intelligence, and e-learning systems. Social IoT and technostress did not show a significant impact. The study developed a new theoretical concept for adopting innovative technology in e-learning systems through 'Four Tier Technology Gears', such as start-up, boost-up, smooth-up, and speed-up technology gears. From a theoretical perspective, the study has built-up a theoretical affiliation with the TAM and UTAUT models, which are especially proposed for technology adoption in real-life. The study provides remarkable and valuable recommendations to researchers, designers, policymakers, IT instructors, and structural developers in the context of awareness of key facts for e-learning systems in practical life - especially in an emergency condition, such as the Covid-19 pandemic in Malaysia.