by CHAPTER ONE
INTRODUCTION
Background to the Study
Education is an important facet in life; it is a fundamental component of human development and societal progress, serving as a catalyst for individual growth, social mobility, and economic advancement. With globalization and the world’s increasing focus on knowledge based economy, education has become more important than ever. It has also led to the global recognition of the rights of individuals. Education stimulates and empower s people to participate in development. This is because the world’s faith lies in the power of education to transform individuals through the school system. Education takes various forms, ranging from formal schooling to informal learning experiences embedded within family, community, and workplaces. Formal education typically occurs within structured institutions such as secondary schools, colleges, and universities, following standardized curricula and assessment frameworks. Universities are established with the intention of promoting technology and technical education or producing technical manpower for the technological advancement and promotion of innovation in a country (Doern, 2018).
Technological innovation, automation and effective adoption of telecommunication have greatly contributed to school operations all over the world. Adopting ICT innovations in universities is the major driving force for the effective activities that goes on during lessons. It also promotes the quality of service delivery an d users’ satisfaction. Given the relevance of ICT in activities that goes on during academic activities, it is necessary for university students to be abreast of global trends and the adoption of Artificial Intelligence in their academic pursuit. The term Artificial Intelligence means a machine – based system that can make predictions, recommendations or decisions influencing real or virtual environments. It is the process of building intelligent machines from vast volumes of data. Students learn from past l earning experiences and perform human – like tasks, hence, artificial intelligence enhances the speed, precision, and effectiveness of human efforts. Adejo and Yakubu (2023) defined AI as a system that changes behaviour based on data collected, usage analysis, and other observations without being explicitly programmed. This implies that AI is a constellation of technologies that enable machines to act with higher levels of intelligence while emulating human capabilities to sense, comprehend and act. AI uses complex algorithms and methods to build machines that can make decisions on their own.
Artificial intelligence (AI) also refers to computer systems capable of performing complex tasks that historically only a human could do, such as reasoning, making decisions, or solving problems. Recently, artificial intelligence (AI) technologies have been widely used in the field of education both by students and educators in achieving their academic goal, and artificial intelligence in education (AI) has gained increasing attention. (Xu et al., 2017).
Statement of Problem
The integration of Artificial Intelligence (AI) into education has significantly transformed teaching and learning processes across various fields of study, particularly in computer-related disciplines. AI-powered tools such as intelligent tutoring systems, adaptive learning platforms, virtual assistants, and automated grading systems are increasingly being adopted to enhance students’ learning outcomes. Proponents argue that AI provides personalized learning experiences, fosters problem-solving skills, and offers real-time feedback, thereby improving students’ academic performance.
