Digital Competence as Predictor for the Motivation to Use Artificial Intelligence Technologies among Librarians in Edo and Delta States, Nigeria

Motivation to use artificial intelligence (AI) technologies are those factors that influenced users’ drive to actually use AI technologies. There are various AI technologies that librarians can adopt to improve their service functions. However, studies have shown that the use of AI among librarians is low. It is in the light of this that this study therefore investigated the motivation to use AI technologies among librarians in Edo and Delta States. Descriptive survey research design was adopted. The population consist of 125 librarians selected from 18 Universities in Edo and Delta States, Nigeria. Total enumeration technique was adopted because of the manageable size of the population. A validated questionnaire was used to collect data from the respondents.  Data collected was analysed using both inferential and descriptive statistics. Finding revealed that digital competence (Adj. R2 = 0.195, p = 0.000b) has significant but weak influence on motivation to use AI technologies among librarians. The study concluded that digital competence influenced motivation to use AI technologies. The study recommended that there should be more awareness of AI among librarians. At the same time, librarians should improve their digital skill through regular training programs so that they can effectively use AI tools.