AI in research support : how librarians can enhance knowledge discoveries
Keywords:
Artificial intelligence, Indigenous Knowledge, Akamba Community, Dispute resolutionAbstract
Globally, Artificial Intelligence (AI) has become a transformative force across multiple sectors, including governance, healthcare, and dispute management, offering innovative approaches to problem-solving and social development. However, traditional dispute resolution mechanisms remain important for preserving social cohesion in Africa, though they are hampered by modernization and new technologies. The aim of the study was to find out the use of AI support in Indigenous Knowledge alternative dispute resolution among the Akamba community in Kitui County, Kenya, to enhance peace and development. The specific Objectives were to identify the existing Indigenous Knowledge (IK) methods used in IK-based alternative dispute resolution, to determine community perspectives on the ethical use of AI technology to enhance IK-based dispute resolution, and to develop a framework for AI support in IK-based dispute resolution. A case study research design was used, drawing from Sociotechnical Systems theory and Indigenous Knowledge Systems theory. The researcher applied purposive and snowball sampling techniques to select 25 respondents (traditional elders, chiefs, and community leaders) in 5 selected sub-counties. Semi-structured interviews were used to collect the data. The data was transcribed and thematically analyzed using NVivo 15 software. The results revealed that within the Akamba community, there was a reliance on elders’ mediation and family arbitration. The respondents expressed a willingness to adopt AI primarily for the documentation and archiving of indigenous material and for knowledge sharing in general. Despite the potential integration, some moral dilemmas arise, with the majority of the respondents acknowledging data privacy issues and cultural misrepresentation as concerns. The survey ultimately concludes that AI can only supplement human wisdom and not replace it. The research developed a framework integrating AI into the IK alternative dispute resolution process, making it more efficient, stable, and accessible to future generations of the Akamba community in Kitui and beyond.
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Accepted 2026-08-12
Published 2026-09-12