Generative Artificial Intelligence (AI)

Overview

Generative Artificial Intelligence (gAI) tools can generate text, images, or other data in response to questions or other input provided.

Note: Due to requirements placed on JMU by the state of Virginia, all gAI tools in use by the JMU community must be documented and approved before use. Please see the FAQ below. Looking for general information on AI? Please see Artificial Intelligence at JMU.

Approved gAI tools approved for use by the JMU community include:

Microsoft Copilot Chat: available at no cost to anyone in the JMU community, Copilot Chat is an artificially-intelligent chat service powered the GPT chat model and the DALL-E text-to-image model that can deliver information as text-based repsonses as well as generate images. JMU users have data protections when logged into the service, meaning that Microsoft does not monitor access and no data is ingested to train the AI model.
Microsoft Copilot for M365: available as an extra-cost subscription for employees of JMU, Copilot for M365 is intended to boost productivity by providing intelligent suggestions and automating tasks in Microsoft 365 apps such as Word, Outlook, PowerPoint and Excel. Copilot for M365 can assist you with creating and editing files on your computer, in Teams or OneDrive, and more. See FAQ below for more information.

Who can use this Service?

Microsoft Copilot Chat with commercial data protections is available to faculty, staff, and students. It is not available to affiliates/emeriti. While using any AI service, you must adhere to all JMU policies and vendor terms including the following:

JMU:
- Policy 1205: Data Stewardship
- Policy 1207: Appropriate Use of Information Technology Resources
Microsoft:
- Copilot Terms of Service

How can I get this Service?

Microsoft Copilot Chat

Microsoft Copilot Chat can be accessed at https://copilot.microsoft.com using a web browser.

To protect yourself and JMU, you must click the “Sign In” button at the top right of the page, click “Sign in with a work or school account,” log in with your JMU email address and password, and complete Duo authentication. Once logged in, you will see a shield among the icons at the top right of the page:

Do not use Copilot if you do not see a shield!
If you are unable to login or do not see a shield after login, please reach out for help/support.

Microsoft Copilot for M365

Employees who wish to obtain a Copilot for M365 subscription may contact Becky Helmick at helmicrp@jmu.edu.

Where can I get Help/Support?

Copilot information and training resources are available from several sources, including LinkedIn Learning and Microsoft Learn. Look to the FAQ below for answers to Copilot questions. For an overview of JMU's approach to the evaluation and use of generative AI, please see Artificial Intelligence at JMU.

For help with login, access, or other concerns:

Information Technology Help Desk at (540) 568-3555, IT Service Portal or helpdesk@jmu.edu

FAQs

Are answers from gAI sources considered reliable information?
Understand that all answers may not be accurate or appropriate. AI-generated content should always be closely reviewed by a knowledgeable person before using.

Can I use Copilot Chat when off-campus and still have commercial data protections?
Yes, Copilot Chat will have data protections in place whenever a JMU user is logged into the service, regardless of whether on-campus or off-campus. VPN is not required.

Is Copilot Chat approved for use with sensitive or highly confidential data?
No, at this time the tool is not approved for use with these types of data.

What are the benefits of using Copilot Chat compared to other generative AI services?
Copilot is known as one of the best generative AI services for providing the most-up to date information and comprehensive citations for the answers provided.

Does Copilot Chat have a knowledge cut-off date?
No, Copilot Chat is public and online based, so it continuously learns from user inputs coming from non-commercial customers. Remember that when properly logged into the service, your inputs as a JMU user will not be saved or used to train the model.

May Copilot Chat be used when I am not logged in?
No, Copilot Chat should not be used in this way. While it is possible to access the Copilot Chat page without a login, you will not have any commercial data protections in place and your input and responses will be saved and used to train the model.

Are there any limitations on how many times I can use Copilot Chat?
Yes, there are limits on the number of responses you can receive per session (per chat) and per day. Current limits are 30 responses per session, and 300 responses per day.

Is Copilot available in Microsoft 365 applications?
Yes, it is available as a paid subscription service to JMU employees. To begin a subscription, see "How to get this service" above.

What are the benefits of Copilot for M365?
This paid subscription service provides additional value over Copilot Chat. While also a chat service, it is able to assist you inside Microsoft 365 applications and work with your files. It can perform a variety of tasks such as taking meeting notes in Teams, producing meeting summaries, giving you a head-start on document creation in Word or PowerPoint, helping schedule tasks or summarize emails in Outlook, editing or suggesting changes in your documents and emails, and so much more.

May I use AI services other than those listed above?
No, only gAI or AI tools that have been reviewed and approved by Information Technology are authorized for use by the JMU community with JMU data.