Tools & Technology
The University of Utah has a growing list of AI tools that are approved for conducting university business.
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.
If you’re working with protected information, 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 have questions about an AI tool not listed here or need additional information, please fill out our 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. Tools that are not listed have not been approved for use or purchase.
The list below provides guidance on enterprise tools that are approved, under review, or not approved to help you make informed decisions when selecting AI tools for your work.
| Tool | Status | Additional Information |
|---|---|---|
| Microsoft Copilot Chat | Approved for General (Non-sensitive) Use | Accessed via bing.com/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 | Plan for general release is currently in development (for added cost of $36/month). More information can be found in our Microsoft 365 Copilot section. |
| ChatGPT Enterprise | Approved, Release in Process | The general release has not been announced. More information can be found in our ChatGPT Enterprise section. |
| Microsoft Power BI Copilot | Under Review | The general release has not been announced. |
| Zoom AI Companion | Approved, Release in Process | BAA has been completed; the general release will be on June 6th and soon thereafter for the healthcare instance. |
| 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. |
|
Adobe Firefly and Adobe AI features |
Approved, with exceptions for PHI and restricted data (see additional information in the next column) | A BAA is not and will not be available for Adobe products. Therefore, all such documents created using Adobe products should be saved locally, and not to the Adobe cloud. |
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
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.
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. ChatGPT Enterprise will support PHI use cases.
Pricing details are being finalized.