Tools & Infrastructure
The University of Utah has a growing list of AI tools that are approved for conducting university business. Infrastructure also continues to evolve, with the ultimate goal of making AI ready and reliable for everyone.
AI tools can be used for a variety of applications within our university, from research to teaching, each including different considerations of privacy and security. The U is streamlining its review process for acquiring new tools. Reviews will include an assessment of the specific use case, as well as legal, compliance, technology, and security considerations as appropriate.
Before using any tool with university data, please review Rule R4-004C: Data Classification and Encryption. If you’re working with protected data, using a tool that is not yet approved may expose the university and its data to IT security risks. Similarly, if you’re working with certain types of intellectual property, using a tool that is not yet approved may violate university rules.
- If you want to use an AI tool not listed below, please complete the AI Tool Form.
- If you have questions or need additional information, please complete the AI Support Form.
Microsoft Copilot
The University of Utah uses Copilot as the approved AI chat solution. Copilot summarizes long pieces of text, crafts professional content, and creates images for various sources.
Partner Trainings
Want to learn more about how to use Copilot or Generative AI's? View available partner trainings to help grow your AI knowledge and skills.
Reviewed and Approved AI Tools
To support safe and effective use of generative AI tools in our organization, the University of Utah is continually reviewing what platforms can be used for university business. This review process includes Business Associate Agreements, or BAAs, which outline permitted uses and disclosures of university data. In addition, a BAA requires safeguards like encryption and access controls to further protect information shared with a vendor.
The list below provides guidance on enterprise tools that are approved, under review, or not approved. Currently, approved enterprise tools can only be used with public data, as defined by Rule 4-004C. These tools are not approved for use with restricted or sensitive data.
| Tool | Status (approvals cover public data only) | Additional Information |
|---|---|---|
| Microsoft Copilot Chat | Approved | Sign in with your uNID at m365.cloud.microsoft/chat. Additional information can be found on our Copilot Chat page. |
| Microsoft Teams Premium | Approved | Licenses can be purchased from the Office of Software Licensing. |
| Microsoft 365 Copilot | Approved, pilot phase | The plan for general release is currently in development. More information can be found in our Microsoft 365 Copilot section. |
| ChatGPT Enterprise Edu | Approved | Request access via the University IT Service Catalog (university login required). More information can be found in our ChatGPT Enterprise Edu section. |
| Zoom AI Companion | Approved | Available for the main campus. A release for University of Utah Health is in the works. |
| Adobe Firefly and Adobe AI features | Approved | The university does not have a BAA for Adobe products. When an Adobe product is used to create a document that includes sensitive or restricted data, that document should be saved locally, and not to the Adobe cloud. |
| Microsoft Power BI Copilot | Under review | The general release has not been announced. |
| Amazon SageMaker Unified Studio | Under review | The general release has not been announced. |
| Gemini for Google Workspace | Under review | The general release has not been announced. |
| Google NotebookLM | Under review | The general release has not been announced. |
| ChatGPT personal subscription | Not approved | Does not currently meet the compliance requirements for business use. |
| GitHub Copilot | Not approved | Does not currently meet the compliance requirements for business use. |
AI in Meeting Administration
The University of Utah does not have specific guidelines for the use of AI in meeting administration. Until then, use of approved tools—for now, Microsoft Teams Premium and Zoom AI Companion—can help ensure the security and confidentiality of university data.
When a non-university host or attendee brings an AI assistant to meetings, university participants must determine if the information discussed is public, sensitive, or restricted. If sensitive or restricted topics arise, they should request the AI be disabled. However, existing vendor contracts may permit AI access to such data.
Microsoft 365 Copilot
Microsoft 365 Copilot is a smart assistant that works within Microsoft apps like Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook, and Teams. Copilot uses AI to help you with tasks like writing documents, creating presentations, analyzing data, and even scheduling meetings. By integrating AI into everyday productivity tools, it makes tasks faster and more efficient for users who work with Office applications regularly.
The organization is working toward a general release, but this has been approved for business use. The timeline for general availability has not been announced.
Pricing details are being finalized, however, the estimate is $36 a month per user. Licenses will be available for purchase through the Office of Software Licensing once the product is generally available.
ChatGPT Enterprise Edu
ChatGPT is a standalone chatbot developed by OpenAI. Unlike Microsoft 365 Copilot and Copilot Chat, it is not tied to Microsoft products. Instead, it serves as a general-purpose conversational AI that can generate content, answer questions, assist with coding, and much more. It is accessible through its own website or app and is used for a wide range of creative and practical tasks.
Request access via the University IT Service Catalog (university login required).
The basic edition is free. Access to advanced features will require payment; details coming soon.
AI Infrastructure
Machine Learning and AI at the Center for High Performance Computing
UCloud from University IT