This study aims to discover the factors that affect the adoption of artificial intelligence (AI) technology by academic librarians within Pakistani universities. It aims to identify the vibrant drivers and challenges within organisational, technological and environmental contexts and to produce theory and practical knowledge about the integration of AI within higher education libraries.
This study uses a mixed-methods research design, involving both quantitative and qualitative interviews. To understand the principles underlying the interactions between these constructs, the study administers a survey questionnaire to evaluate the research model, using structural equation modelling (SEM) and necessary condition analysis (NCA) to identify essential conditions for outcomes and conduct heterogeneity analysis to identify factors for AI adoption success.
The technological aspects of compatibility and complexity are strong drivers in shaping perceptions of AI’s ease of use and utility, with compatibility positively influencing perceptions of usability but not always affecting perceived value. Organisational elements include top management support and technological readiness, while environmental factors encompass competitive pressures that drive the imperative for integration.
This study uses an innovative integration of two theoretical models, the technology acceptance model (TAM) and the technology–organisation–environment (TOE) framework, to provide an understanding of AI adoption. The TAM and TOE frameworks will be used to explore AI adoption within university libraries and address an essential research gap in developing economies, such as Pakistan. It provides practical managerial guidelines to policymakers, encouraging AI integration through leadership support, infrastructural readiness and responsiveness within the organisation. It also provides a baseline standard for AI adoption research, using the stringency of mixed methods through the employment of SEM, thematic analysis and NCA.
