Would you like to enhance your work with generative AI tools? Do you want to experiment with new machine learning models in a safe and supported manner? Do you know the University's guidance on how AI can be used appropriately?
The AI and Machine Learning Support Competency Centre can help. We can offer: free staff training in AI Literacy; consultancy on how to deploy AL/ML methods in education, research, and professional services; and access to approved and supported tools, to help transform the work of your department, centre or project. We can help you to find the right solutions for your AI/ML needs and identify how best to use them while aligning with the University's guidelines.
Show Me: AI/ML Use Cases
You may already be using Generative AI every day, or perhaps you’d like to start experimenting. Perhaps you have concerns about introducing AI/ML tools into your workflow, worried about issues like accuracy, information security, or academic integrity. We’ll be featuring effective uses of AI in a series of online resources and in-person events, so that you can be inspired to try out this new technology with confidence. See below for details of our current pilot of AI subscription services.
If you have an existing use of AI/ML tools for teaching, research or professional services which you’d like to share with the rest of the University, please get in touch [email link]. If you currently have a paid subscription to a commercial AI platform such as ChatGPT Plus, we may be able to help you access discounts via a central purchase by the Competency Centre.
Teach Me: AI Literacy Programme
We are developing a selection of resources and training for staff, to ensure that everyone can use AI/ML tools with confidence, safety and for appropriate applications. We will also work to highlight guidance published by the University, letting you know how to comply with existing policies or request clarification.
We’ll be working with organisations across the University to deliver this programme including:
- IT Learning Centre, who are already offering courses on how to understand and use AI and machine learning
- Information Security team for guidance on how to use Generative AI services safely
- Bodleian Libraries’ Open Scholarship Support team around copyright, referencing and archiving AI-generated material
- Centre for Teaching and Learning on how to appropriately use AI at Oxford and how to use Generative AI for teaching
- Generative AI Special Interest Group, which you can join on Teams to access a community of University staff currently using AI/ML tools.
Help Me: Support to access and use AI/ML tools
We are recruiting a dedicated team of technical staff, business analysts and trainers who will offer free consultancy on understanding and deploying AI-powered tools. This will include providing access to premium versions of commercial Generative AI systems in a controlled and secure environment.
Access Approved AI tools: March 2024 pilot
The pilot is currently underway, with no further licenses available
We have secured a number of Microsoft Copilot 365 for Office and ChatGPT Enterprise licenses. These licenses are available as a pilot resource to colleagues across the university to support their work and evaluate the impact of premium generative AI tools. During the six month trial period, colleagues will need to provide feedback on their use and agree to light usage monitoring to identify changes in productivity.
Note on data
Both tools are suitable for all confidential and personally identifiable information. We have an agreement with both OpenAI and Microsoft to not use the University data for training, finetuning or evaluating their models.
Note on development of custom bots (GPTs) and prototyping
Our licenses allow for the development and sharing of customised bots (GPTs). These bots can only be used by other users of the paid services (including across Teams) but not by users of the free version of ChatGPT or Copilot. They are compatible but not transferable between services. They cannot be used once subscription ends but can be used as prototypes for custom bots developed using the API. API access is not part of this pilot but can be procured separately by participating teams or individuals.
Our subscription to these tools are intended primarily for University use, however in the interest of full exploration and understanding of use cases, we encourage wide testing within the terms of service.
