Evaluation of Artificial Intelligence Tools Integration among Pre- Service Biology Teachers: A Case Study of Federal University of Education, Zaria, Kaduna State, Nigeria

The study evaluated the integration of artificial intelligence (AI) tools among in pre-service Biology teachers in Federal University of Education, Zaria Kaduna State. The study was guided by four research objectives with corresponding research questions and null hypotheses, respectively. A descriptive survey research design was used for the study. The population of the study were all pre-service Biology students during the 2024/2025 academic session in Federal University of Education, Zaria. Kaduna State. A sample size of 225 pre-service Biology students were selected from the target population using simple random sampling technique. Data were collected using a structured instrument titled Challenges and Opportunities of Artificial Intelligence in Pre-service Biology Teacher Education Questionnaire (COAIPBTEQ) with a reliability coefficient of 0.88. inferential statistics (t-test) were used to test the null hypotheses. Findings of the study revealed that there was no statistically significant relationship between the level of awareness and the use of AI tools among pre-service Biology teachers (r = –0.101, p > 0.05). However, a significant difference was found between institutions with high and low levels of support for AI integration (p < 0.05). Additionally, a significant gender difference was observed in AI tool usage (p < 0.05), with male students showing higher usage rates than their female counterparts. Based on these findings, the study recommends that the government and educational institutions, such as the Federal University of Education, Zaria, invest in digital infrastructure, including reliable internet connectivity, smart classrooms, and AI-enabled platforms, to enhance the integration and effective use of AI in teacher education.