Arch News

UGA AI Tools

All students, faculty, and staff have access to Microsoft Copilot, Google Gemini, and Google NotebookLM through their UGA Microsoft 365 and Google Workspace accounts. Visit the EITS Knowledge Base to learn more about these tools.

When accessing Copilot, Gemini, or NotebookLM through your UGA accounts, your data is processed within UGA’s secure Microsoft 365 environments and Google Workspace. Content used in these tools is not shared with external entities and is not used to train public AI models, helping ensure that your information remains protected and institutionally managed.

The University is expanding its discovery pilot with additional student licenses for ChatGPT Edu, which provides additional capabilities beyond the free ChatGPT consumer tier. This pilot will begin as soon as procurement and provisioning are complete. In parallel, the University continues to negotiate with OpenAI and others to establish broader access across the institution for additional tools, targeting the fall semester.

As we monitor the rapid evolution of AI tools, we are committed to ensuring that students, faculty, and staff have access to cutting-edge resources that prepare students for their future careers, enhance innovative instruction for faculty, and optimize university operations for all.

AI Training Resources

This curated list of courses equips students, faculty, and staff with practical approaches to engage with AI and foster thoughtful consideration of its appropriate application in their professional endeavors. These resources serve as a foundation for AI literacy and provide guidance on utilizing widely accessible UGA tools, such as Microsoft Copilot and Google Gemini, ethically and responsibly, within the UGA community.

Getting Started with AI:

1. “What Is Generative AI?” provides an accessible introduction to generative AI for non-technical audiences. It explains how generative AI differs from traditional AI, what language models can and cannot do, and key ethical, legal, and workforce considerations for responsible use.
2. “Building AI Literacy” establishes a foundational understanding of how AI works and how it’s used in practice. This course covers predictive vs. generative models, prompt basics, and the importance of ethics, bias awareness, and human oversight. It includes multiple short modules that can be taken individually.

Using Microsoft Copilot:

1. “Streamlining Your Work with Microsoft Copilot” focuses on using Microsoft Copilot to enhance productivity. Although the course focuses on Copilot personal accounts, the skills demonstrated apply to UGA’s Copilot environment. The course covers how to use Copilot to generate ideas, summarize data, and solve common work problems. Viewers will learn how to perform robust online searches, generate ideas, and create content. Note: Not all features demonstrated in this video apply to UGA’s Microsoft 365 environment.
2. “Build Your Generative AI Productivity Skills with Microsoft and LinkedIn” frames generative AI as workplace infrastructure, not novelty. Developed with Microsoft, the curriculum focuses on functional competence, specifically prompt engineering and Copilot integration in Office 365. It offers a structured approach to reducing friction in daily analysis and communication tasks without overstating the technology’s capabilities. Note: Not all features demonstrated in this video apply to UGA’s Microsoft 365 environment.

Using Google Gemini and NotebookLM:

1. “Productivity with Google Gemini” explores how to utilize Gemini within Google Workspace to streamline workflows, enhance communication, and facilitate faster decision-making. This course focuses on practical applications that reduce routine administrative effort.
2. “NotebookLM: First Look” introduces NotebookLM as a research assistant grounded in user-provided sources to reduce hallucinations. This course covers core workflows along with privacy, security, and citation verification considerations.

Using ChatGPT:

1. “How to Research and Write Using Generative AI Tools” offers an introduction to prompt engineering for research and writing. The course covers techniques for summarizing information, developing user personas, and analyzing stylistic tone. The instruction focuses on structuring inputs to generate consistent, high-quality professional content.
2. “Demystifying ChatGPT and Generative AI: What Every Professional Needs to Know” provides an overview of generative AI, designed to make complex concepts accessible to a broad non-technical audience. The material focuses on integrating tools like ChatGPT to support daily productivity and problem-solving. This course is an appropriate primer for those seeking to understand the basic mechanics and utility of AI tools.

Using AI Responsibly:The AI Hub website contains a variety of resources and guidance on how to use AI appropriately when teaching, conducting research, preparing coursework, and other administrative uses. For more information, visit the AI Guidance area of UGA’s AI Hub website.

Using LinkedIn Learning:

To access these courses, visit the LinkedIn Learning login page and enter your UGA email address ([email protected]) when prompted. Then log in to UGA SSO with your MyID and password. If you have problems accessing these courses, please visit this support page.

Other UGA Resources

• Visit the AI Hub for the latest AI-related information and activity at UGA.
• Instructors can access the Navigating AI Literacy for Instructors in eLC.
• Instructors and students can access the UGA Libraries’ AI Literacy Guide.
• Reference the Office of Research’s Guidance on AI Use in Research.
• Review the Graduate School’s Policy on Use of Generative AI in Theses and Dissertations.
• See the University System of Georgia (USG) Handbook information on AI in Academic Contexts.

Have Questions? 

For questions or support, please contact Enterprise Information Technology Services (EITS) at [email protected] or 706-542-3106.