Generative artificial intelligence (AI), offered through tools such as ChatGPT, Claude, Bard, Copilot (Microsoft, GitHub, etc.), and DALL-E, is a subset of AI that uses machine learning models to create new, original content, such as images, text, code, or music, based on patterns and structures learned from existing data.

Cornell's AI Strategy

Cornell researchers and other community members have long been involved in AI and machine learning in their scholarly, teaching, and technical work. With the rapid growth of generative AI tools, Cornell, like so many of our peer institutions, is exploring how this new area of AI impacts our institution.

To support the community in experimenting with and using generative AI in new ways while managing the challenges and risks, Cornell's AI strategy has four core elements grounded in the university's core values:

1. building on the recommendations of the university-wide task force reports for education and pedagogy, research, and administration, and partnering across the Ithaca campus, Cornell Tech, and Weill Cornell Medicine to pilot a range of AI services to determine how best to meet our evolving needs.
2. establishing the AI Advisory Council to help explore policy, practice, ethical use, and priorities for AI access, experimentation, and investments.
3. soliciting AI project ideas across research, education, and administration from faculty, staff, and students.
4. establishing the AI Initiatives team, a cross-functional technical group of people from research, teaching and learning, and information technology from the Ithaca campus and Weill Cornell Medicine in New York City. 

Cornell AI Services and Pilots

Microsoft Copilot Enterprise (for Web Browsers)

This university-wide “private” version of ChatGPT and Dall-E enables faculty, staff, and students who are 18 years of age or older to experiment with generative AI text, image, and coding tools without storing the person’s login and chat data or being used to train the large language models.

Microsoft Copilot is powered by ChatGPT, Dall-E, and Microsoft’s search engine, which improves how current and accurate its responses are, but also means chats make use of the public search engine where privacy is limited. For this reason, be sure to only enter low-risk data (information that the university has made available or published for the explicit use of the general public). If you need a tool that enables you to use higher levels of data, see "Request AI Services or Tools" for next steps.

For simple question-and-answer chats, sign in with your Cornell NetID or CWID and password to Microsoft Copilot with any browser. For the most features, launch your Microsoft Edge browser. Logging in is key – that’s how you keep your information private.

Find out how Microsoft Copilot can help you.

If you have more questions, review the AI guidelines and check with your supervisor or professor. Faculty can consult the Center for Teaching Innovation (CTI).

Oversight of AI at Cornell

AI use at Cornell is guided by the university’s values and principles of ethical integrity, social responsibility, inclusivity, innovation, transparency, and sustainability. See the Guidelines for Artificial Intelligence for details.

• The AI Advisory Council will be providing strategic direction for AI initiatives, pilots, technology, and projects; identifying and addressing potential risks and challenges associated with AI deployment; and assisting in the formulation of policies related to AI ethics, privacy, security, and compliance. University volunteers from the faculty, staff, and student community are being asked to serve on the inaugural AI Advisory Council.
• The AI Initiatives team will be triaging, advising, and developing AI initiatives. IT staff from several departments serve on the AI Initiatives team.

Request AI Services or Tools

• Get help with a Cornell AI service
• Submit an AI project idea
• Use AI for teaching
• Faculty and staff - purchase AI tools or subscriptions for individual needs that fall outside the scope of Cornell’s AI services: follow the IT Statement of Need process
• Students - use AI in your courses: consult with your professor, department, or college.

Recommended Resources

Cornell AI Initiative

Cornell University AI for Science Institute

Center for Teaching Innovation: Generative AI

University Task Force Reports

CU Committee Report: Generative Artificial Intelligence for Education and Pedagogy (June 2023)

Cornell University Task Force Report - Generative AI in Academic Research: Perspectives and Cultural Norms (December 2023)

Cornell Generative AI in Administration Task Force Report (January 2024)