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Approved AI tools

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New AI tools are released daily and AI components are being added to existing tools on an ongoing basis. University technology teams evaluate these tools to ensure they are accessible, secure and effective. 

The tools listed here are approved for faculty and staff, but not for medical center employees due to different security requirements. Please consult medical center IT before using AI tools for any business purposes.
 

Microsoft Copilot

Microsoft has multiple, similar AI applications on the market that are branded as "Microsoft Copilot." The version approved for use is Microsoft Copilot with corporate data protection. Learn about and access training on using Copilot with data protection and Copilot for Microsoft 365 on the Administrative Resource Center.

  • Microsoft Copilot with corporate data protection is the only generative AI chatbot tool approved at Ohio State, provided by OTDI for students, faculty, and staff. This AI chatbot is powered by ChatGPT 3.5, ChatGPT 4.0, and DALLE1, with enhanced security measures. For example, conversations within the tool aren’t stored. 
  • Copilot for Microsoft 365 interacts with Microsoft 365 applications, emails, and files stored to OneDrive for a more personalized experience. Licenses can be purchased by departments on an annual basis by following the instructions posted in the Administrative Resource Center (ARC). Users can attend meetings of Club Copilot, a Microsoft EDU community focused entirely on Copilot for Microsoft 365, to learn to use the tool effectively.
  • Microsoft Azure is a private and public cloud platform that provides a set of services that allow you to build, manage and deploy AI and traditional applications on a massive, global network using your favorite tools and frameworks.

Adobe

  • Adobe Express is a free, all-in-one creative tool for Ohio State students, faculty, and staff, ideal for designing social media posts, flyers, videos, and more. It features templates, AI tools like "Text to Image" and "Generative Fill," and social media integration. Accessible via web or mobile app, you can log in online or download from Self Service on university devices. Log in online or download the app from Self Service on university-managed devices. Adobe Express utilizes Firefly, Adobe's generative AI engine. 
  • Adobe Creative Cloud provides a suite of professional creative tools for students, including Photoshop, Premiere Pro, and Illustrator. It is available for free to students in Digital Unions and campus computer labs. University departments can purchase licenses at a discounted rate. Significantly discounted Creative Cloud licenses are available for purchase by individuals through the university. More information is available on the Adobe software page. Adobe Creative Cloud utilizes Firefly, Adobe's generative AI engine.  
  • Adobe Firefly is a creative generative AI engine that is included in Adobe Creative Cloud and Adobe Express. Available as a stand-alone app, Firefly generates images, edits objects, and transforms text. Its AI models also enhance Adobe's flagship apps and Adobe Stock.
  • Adobe Acrobat Pro is free for faculty and staff and can be used for creating, editing, and managing PDFs, with advanced features like accessibility checks

More Approved Tools that Incorporate Generative AI  

  • Ohio State AWS: Amazon Web Services (AWS) provides secure, scalable cost-effective computing, storage and database services that faculty and staff can use for things like AI development, research projects, web application hosting, archival file storage and administrative Business Intelligence/analytics.
  • Salesforce Marketing Cloud (SFMC) - Einstein: SFMC is a marketing automation platform that is used for email marketing. content creation and contact management. Einstein uses AI to help you best evaluate and implement marketing activities within SFMC.
  • CarmenZoom AI Tools
    • Zoom AI Companion: Zoom's AI digital assistant, delivers real-time capabilities to help users improve productivity and work together more effectively.   
    • Otter.ai: Otter.ai provides speech-to-text transcription using AI and machine learning. It is currently integrated into CarmenZoom, providing the live transcription feature.

Ohio State is currently evaluating additional tools that incorporate generative AI; this page will be updated as more tools are approved. 

Have questions on how generative AI tools get approved or want to submit a tool for approval? Reach out to the Office of Technology and Digital Innovation's Digital Security and Trust team at otdi-dst@osu.edu