解:
(1) $\because ∠ BAE = ∠ CAD,$
$\therefore ∠ BAE + ∠ BAD = ∠ CAD + ∠ BAD,$即$∠ EAD = ∠ BAC。$
又$\because AD = AC,$$∠ ADE = ∠ ACB,$
$\therefore △ ADE ≌ △ ACB。$
$\therefore AE = AB。$
$\because AB = 8,$
$\therefore AE = 8。$
(2) 证明:连接$BO$并延长,交$\odot O$于点$F,$连接$AF。$
$\because BF$是$\odot O$的直径,
$\therefore ∠ BAF = 90°。$
$\therefore ∠ AFB + ∠ ABF = 90°。$
$\because ∠ AFB = ∠ ACB,$
$\therefore ∠ ACB + ∠ ABF = 90°。$
在$△ ADC$中,$AD = AC,$
$\therefore ∠ ACB = ∠ ADC。$
$\therefore 2∠ ACB + ∠ CAD = 180°。$
由
(1)知,$AE = AB,$
$\therefore ∠ AEB = ∠ ABE。$
$\therefore 2∠ ABE + ∠ BAE = 180°。$
$\because ∠ BAE = ∠ CAD,$
$\therefore ∠ ACB = ∠ ABE。$
$\therefore ∠ ABE + ∠ ABF = 90°,$即$∠ OBE = 90°。$
$\because OB$为$\odot O$的半径,
$\therefore EB$是$\odot O$的切线。