Role of AI Applications in Enhancing Information-Seeking Experience of Postgraduate Students at Public Universities in the Eastern Region of Kenya

Postgraduate students are increasingly using AI to support their learning activities, which involve extensive research that requires advanced information retrieval, synthesis, and analysis. However, the role of AI in enhancing information seeking of postgraduate students in public university libraries is not well understood, particularly in the Eastern region of Kenya. This study evaluated the role of AI applications in enhancing the information-seeking experience of postgraduate students at selected public universities in the Eastern region of Kenya. The study was grounded on the diffusion of innovation theory and socio-technical systems theory to explore the use of technology in higher learning settings. The descriptive survey research design was employed with a mixed-methods approach, allowing the collection and analysis of qualitative and quantitative data from postgraduate students and library section heads at Chuka, Tharaka, and Embu universities. Questionnaires were administered to 325 randomly sampled postgraduate students, while 6 purposively sampled library heads were interviewed. Data analysis entailed descriptive statistical analyses in which frequencies and percentages of responses were summarized and presented with tables and graphs. Thematic analysis was employed to analyze qualitative data collected through interviews. The study findings showed that the role of AI was to profile and predict students’ information-seeking behaviours to support personalised learning, which enhanced the information-seeking experience of postgraduate students at public universities in the Eastern region of Kenya. The study concludes that AI technologies offer various benefits that enhance information-seeking experience among postgraduate students in public universities in the Eastern region of Kenya. Although challenges such as limited integration of AI in university libraries impacted the potential benefits of AI on the information-seeking experience in university libraries. The study recommends that librarians and students advocate for the integration of AI technologies in academic libraries to enhance the information-seeking experience of postgraduate students at public universities in the Eastern region of Kenya.