Artificial intelligence (AI) is rapidly transforming healthcare delivery worldwide, offering promising solutions to improve diagnostics, treatment, and administrative efficiency. This study assessed the level of awareness and extent of utilisation of AI-based tools among healthcare professionals in South-East Nigeria. A descriptive cross-sectional survey was conducted using a structured questionnaire distributed via Google Forms to 450 healthcare workers, including doctors, nurses, laboratory scientists, physiotherapists, radiographers, and health information officers. Descriptive statistics and chi-square analysis were employed to analyse the data. Results showed that while 64.4% of respondents were aware of AI technologies, only 30% reported actively utilising these tools in clinical or administrative practice. A significant association was found between professional role and AI awareness (χ² = 12.35, p = 0.02), with doctors exhibiting higher awareness than other groups. Key barriers to adoption included inadequate infrastructure (66.7%), insufficient funding (60%), limited technical expertise (55.6%), data privacy concerns (44.4%), and lack of regulatory frameworks (33.3%). These findings highlight the need for targeted investments in infrastructure, capacity building, and policy development to accelerate AI integration into healthcare in resource-constrained settings. The study provides valuable insights for policymakers, healthcare administrators, and technology developers aiming to harness AI’s potential to improve health outcomes in Nigeria and similar contexts.