The Role of Artificial Intelligence (AI) on Enhancing Public Communication in Nigerian Universities: Focus at Federal Universities in South East Nigeria

This study examined the impact of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in facilitating public communication within Nigerian universities, in this case the University of South East Nigeria. It is imperative to recognize that universities make a significant impact on the knowledge economy worldwide. By conducting research and scholarly publications, they add to a deep comprehension of a wide range of fields and disciplines that subsequently drives economic growth and competitiveness. Public communications are a crucial aspect of universities because they help disseminate information, encourage interaction with stakeholders, and build the brand and reputation of the institution. Traditional methods of public communications, including press releases, media relations, and social media, might find it challenging to effectively communicate and connect with different audiences, especially during the digital era. Artificial intelligence (AI) is a revolutionary technology, one that can be leveraged to improve public communications in universities. Through AI algorithms and machine learning processes, universities are able to sift through large data sets, extract information regarding public opinion and sentiment, and optimize their messaging and engagement processes for target audience segments. The purpose of this study is to investigate the use of AI for optimizing public communications in university settings. This study was carried out five federal universities in south East Nigeria, the study employed survey research design, 6,782 employees of the five federal universities in South East served as the population for the study. A sample size of 378 Respondents was drawn using Taro Yamane Sampling Techniques. The instrument for data collected is a structured questionnaire designed by the researcher; data collected from the respondents were analyzed using simple percentage, whereas the hypotheses were at 0.05 significance level using chi square statistical instrument. The findings of the study revealed that: AI powered chatbot played positive significant role in enhanced academic inquiries in Federal University in South East Nigeria; AI powered staff portal played positive significant role in efficient staff communication in Federal University in South East Nigeria. Keywords: Artificial intelligence, public communication, Universities, chatbot and staff portal