UTILIZATION OF ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE (AI) TECHNOLOGIES BY SECRETARIES IN PUBLIC ORGANIZATIONS FOR EFFECTIVE JOB PERFORMANCE IN EBONYI STATE

Abstract

This study examined the use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) technologies, specifically transcription tools, by secretaries in public organizations in Ebonyi State to support effective job performance. The study aimed to determine the extent to which secretaries employ transcription tools in performing their duties. One research question and one null hypothesis guided the study. A descriptive survey design was adopted, involving the entire population of 527 secretaries across the 32 Ministries in Ebonyi State. A census sampling method was used. A structured questionnaire (QUAIOTEJPPS), face-validated by three experts in education, was used as the data-collection instrument. The instrument’s reliability was established through a pilot test, yielding a Cronbach's alpha of .76, and data were analyzed using mean, standard deviation, and two-way ANOVA at the 0.05 significance level. Findings revealed that secretaries rarely utilized transcription tools, with a cluster mean of 1.63, indicating low adoption despite their potential to improve efficiency in tasks such as minutes, memos, and reports. Utilization significantly varied by gender and years of job experience, with male and less experienced professional secretaries exhibiting higher utilization levels, reflecting differences in technological confidence and ICT exposure. The study concluded that the utilization of transcription tools by professional secretaries in public organizations in Ebonyi State is generally low. It was recommended, among others, that administrators of the OTM programme in Nigerian tertiary institutions should introduce training on digital transcription tools to enable students to acquire relevant digital skills needed to utilize AI transcription tools for effective job performance in public organizations