The AI Co-Pilot: Impact of ChatGPT Usage on the Work Performance of University Librarians in Punjab, Pakistan

Abstract

This paper is an empirical research study that provokes the impact of the artificial intelligence application ChatGPT on the professionalism of university librarians in Punjab, Pakistan. The survey design used was a quantitative, cross-sectional survey, which relied on the Technology Acceptance Model (TAM), and the data were collected among 300 librarians working in universities (both public and private). The study evaluated how perceived usefulness of ChatGPT moderated task execution, proactive behaviour and engagement of librarians in their occupation. Some of the statistical analyses included descriptive statistics, reliability analyses, analysis of variance (ANOVA), Pearson correlation analysis, and multiple regression modelling. Findings showed that the perception about ChatGPT was significantly positive, and among all three dimensions of performance, the perceived usefulness became a salient predictor. The less experienced librarians indicated so much more perceived usefulness as compared to their more experienced colleagues. Therefore, the current paper builds on TAM by providing a direct connection between perceived usefulness and multidimensional work performance outcomes, thus, providing evidence-based proposals to the library administration, policy formulation, and Library and Information Science education to enable the effective implementation of the generative AI into the academic libraries of developing-counties contexts.

 Keywords: ChatGPT, Academic Libraries, Work Performance, Artificial Intelligence, Technology Acceptance Model (TAM), LIS Professionals