University employees have access to AI tools that can support their day-to-day tasks. Before using any technology tool, consider the type of information you plan to share and whether the tool is approved for university use. Institutionally supported tools provide additional privacy, security, and compliance protections that may not be available in publicly available AI services. Review the University of Iowa’s Prohibited Technology List.
Popular AI tools at the university
Before entering information into an AI tool, determine its university data classification. Different tools have different privacy, security, and compliance protections. Questions? Contact the Emerging Technologies Team.
Copilot Chat
Copilot gives UI students, faculty, and staff access to a generative AI-powered platform with enterprise data protection.
Available to all faculty, staff, and students. No additional fee to use.
Can be used to:
- Generate content
- Analyze data
- Summarize documents
- Learn new skills
Data restrictions:
- A consultation with research services or ITS-ISPO is required before using restricted or critical data with Copilot Chat.
Microsoft 365 Copilot
Microsoft 365 Copilot is an AI-powered assistant that works with personal data by being directly integrated with Microsoft 365 apps, including Word, Excel, Outlook, OneDrive and Teams.
Available to faculty and staff for an additional cost.
Can be used to:
- Draft content from OneDrive documents
- Summarize and help respond to emails in Outlook
- Summarize meeting notes and generate agendas for Teams
- Build Copilot Agents
Data restrictions:
- A consultation with research services or ITS-ISPO is required before using restricted or critical data with Microsoft 365 Copilot.
Teams Premium
The Microsoft Teams Premium add-on license for Teams.
Available to faculty and staff for an additional cost.
Can be used to:
- Generate meeting recaps and action items
- Produce live translated captions
- Generate transcriptions in multiple languages
Data restrictions:
- A consultation with research services or ITS-ISPO is required before using restricted or critical data with Teams Premium.
Select the Right Tool
AI tools can significantly improve efficiency and productivity, but it’s important to match the capabilities of the AI with the needs of your role.
Training and Learning Resources
Whether you're new to AI or looking to expand your skills, Iowa offers workshops, self-paced learning resources, and practical guidance to help you use AI effectively.