Access generative AI tools at UW–Madison
UW–Madison has vetted and secured contracts for the generative AI services below. These tools are available university-wide for free and provide higher data security and privacy protection than public services. Please consider these options before exploring unvetted generative AI services for university work.
Google Gemini is an AI chatbot designed to enhance productivity and creativity through natural language interactions. It can summarize and write text, translate languages, answer questions, generate images and write code. When you log in with your NetID, Google won’t use your prompt data to train its large language models.
OK to use with: Public and internal data only
Webex AI Assistant is an AI-powered meeting tool that offers real-time translation, transcription, voice commands and post-meeting summaries, allowing you to stay on top of the conversation and make virtual meetings more efficient and inclusive.
OK to use with: Public, internal, sensitive and restricted data (know your unit’s guidance before using)
NotebookLM is an AI-powered notebook designed to help you understand and work with your uploaded documents and other digital content. Ask questions about the source materials in your “notebook” to get summaries with citations and generate different types of content like study guides and audio overviews. NotebookLM is included with your UW–Madison Google account.
OK to use with: Public and internal data only
Copilot Chat is available to all university students and employees as part of your UW–Madison Microsoft 365 account. When logged in with your NetID, you can use Copilot Chat on the web or within M365 apps like Word, Outlook, Excel and Teams. Microsoft doesn’t retain or use your data to train its AI tools when you log in with your NetID.
OK to use with: Public and internal data only
Zoom AI Companion can automatically create meeting summaries, identify action items and quickly answer questions about what happened during meetings. UW–Madison has 2 tiers of Zoom accounts—standard for most students and staff and elevated security for employees working with HIPAA-protected health data.
OK to use with: Public, internal and sensitive data (know your unit’s guidance before using); Secure Zoom is also OK to use with restricted data, including HIPAA health dataSubscription-based AI services
These enterprise AI services are available to university faculty and staff on a pay-as-you-go basis.
Amazon Web Services (AWS) Bedrock
Amazon Bedrock is a cloud service that makes it easy to build AI applications using foundation models from leading AI companies. It provides a single way to access and use these models and tools to customize them with public or internal data and create AI assistants that can interact with university systems and information. OK to use with: Public or internal data but requires evaluation to handle sensitive or restricted data
Google Cloud Platform AI Services
Google Cloud Platform (GCP) offers cloud computing resources and access to more than 90 foundation models, such as Claude from Anthropic and Mixtral from Mistral AI, for processing and storing public or internal data. GCP is available to faculty and staff but requires Cybersecurity evaluation for uses involving sensitive or restricted data. OK to use with: Public or internal data but requires evaluation to handle sensitive or restricted data
Microsoft Azure AI Services
UW–Madison’s Azure service offers cloud computing resources, including access to OpenAI’s API, for processing and storing public or internal data. It’s available to faculty and staff but requires Cybersecurity evaluation for uses involving sensitive or restricted data. OK to use with: Public or internal data but requires evaluation to handle sensitive or restricted dataThe University of Wisconsin–Madison is committed to responsibly harnessing the power of generative artificial intelligence to enhance teaching, learning, research and university operations. The Division of Information Technology (DoIT) oversees university-wide AI initiatives focused on providing secure enterprise AI tools.
Explore this page to learn about generative AI tools, resources, policies, events and support that are available to the UW–Madison community. Whether you’re an AI novice or an expert, we invite you to explore how AI can accelerate your work and studies.
AI and institutional data
Never enter sensitive or restricted information like student records, health data or unpublished research into unvetted AI services. If you have questions about data classification, contact the appropriate data steward.
Policies & ethics
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University policies safeguard institutional data, which everyone at UW is legally and ethically obligated to protect. Remember, misuse of AI could violate university rules and legal obligations.
The ethics of using generative AI tools in higher education are evolving. Employees and students should reflect on how AI impacts academic integrity, attribution, privacy and equity.
Keep in mind:
- AI tools can be biased and make mistakes
- You are responsible and accountable for what you produce when using these tools
- AI tools should enhance, not replace, your own analysis and reasoning
When misused, generative AI tools can expose institutional data that the university must protect. For guidance about protecting university systems and data, read the statement from Jeffrey Savoy, UW–Madison chief information security officer. If you have questions about classifying data, contact the relevant data steward.
UW employees are responsible for knowing and following their department or unit’s rules for using AI tools, in addition to following university policies. Make sure you understand the rules before using AI for work. If you’re unsure, ask your supervisor or department head for clarification.
Generative AI guides for university groups
Events & community
Upcoming AI events
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March
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March 2Biophysics-based protein language modelsPresentation by Anthony Gitter12:00 PM, 1109 McArdle Building
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March 5Exploring AI in Teaching: Transforming LecturesCenter for Teaching, Learning & Mentoring12:00 PM, Online
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March 6Geospatial Data Science Speaker Series: Dr. Xiao HuangA New Era of Spatial Intelligence with GeoAI12:00 PM, 140 Science Hall
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March 9
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March 10
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Recent AI updates
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‘AI for the Everyday Higher Ed Employee’
Join this EDUCAUSE webinar for a practical conversation and real-world tips. Jan 29, 11am via Zoom.
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Zoom AI Companion can now join your meetings in Teams & Google Meet
When you add Zoom AI Companion to a meeting, it will transcribe, take notes and generate a summary with action items — allowing participants to focus more on the meeting agenda and…
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AI at work: A practical guide to using UW’s tools safely
Artificial intelligence tools can help you work smarter—drafting emails, summarizing documents, brainstorming ideas. But when you’re working with university data, choosing the right AI tool matters.
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AI at work: A practical guide to using UW’s tools safely
Artificial intelligence tools can help you work smarter: drafting emails, summarizing documents, brainstorming ideas. But choosing the right AI tool matters. Here’s what you need to know to use AI responsibly at…
Frequently asked questions
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UW–Madison provides access to Amazon Web Services Bedrock, Microsoft Azure AI Studio, Microsoft Copilot, Webex Assistant and Zoom AI Companion. Azure AI Studio and Amazon Web Services offer pay-as-you-go access to tools like OpenAI’s API and Anthropic’s Claude, while Copilot is an AI-powered digital assistant for various tasks. Webex AI Assistant and Zoom AI Companion provide AI-enhanced features for virtual meetings.
You can use Microsoft Copilot by logging in with your NetID at copilot.microsoft.com. You can find more detailed instructions and documentation for each tool in the university’s KnowledgeBase: Getting started with Zoom AI Companion, Getting started with Cisco AI Assistant in Meetings. You can request access to Microsoft Azure Studio and AWS Bedrock.
Yes, there are restrictions on using AI tools at UW–Madison, particularly regarding data protection. You should only enter public information into these tools unless the specific AI service has been officially reviewed and approved by the university. Never input any sensitive, restricted or protected data into generative AI tools to prevent unauthorized sharing of confidential university information.
UW–Madison has specific policies governing the use of AI, focusing on responsible use and data protection. These policies emphasize the need to protect university data, use only public information in AI tools unless officially approved, and consider ethical implications. Read our Generative AI @ UW–Madison: use & policies page for more.
If you’re concerned about data privacy when using AI tools, only use university-approved services and follow the guidelines provided by the university. Do not input any sensitive, restricted or protected data into AI tools. For specific guidance, refer to the statement from Jeffrey Savoy, UW–Madison’s chief information security officer.
Below is a summary of the data types the university has approved for enterprise-licensed AI tools. If a tool is not in this list, then it is approved for public data only.
Your department may have additional restrictions on when, how and what kinds of data you can use in enterprise generative AI tools. You are responsible for knowing and following your department’s rules and guidelines.
* Your unit may have specific guidance about when and how you may use AI tools in Zoom and Webex.
Before using sensitive and restricted data in Bedrock or Azure, you must complete Cybersecurity and the Public Cloud risk assessments and receive permission from your unit’s risk executive—typically your dean or chief administrator.
Yes, there are several AI-focused groups at UW–Madison. These include AI@UW (a student organization), the AI interest subgroup within the Instructional Technologists Group, and the Machine Learning @ UW–Madison community of practice. These groups host events and projects for members interested in AI from various backgrounds and experience levels.
Check the KnowledgeBase articles for help with Azure, Amazon Web Services, Webex and Zoom. If you’re having trouble with university-supported services, contact the DoIT Help Desk.