University of Wisconsin–Madison
Person using AI assistant on smartphone

Access generative AI tools at UW–⁠Madison

UW–⁠Madison has vetted and secured contracts for the generative AI services listed below. These tools are available university-wide at no cost and offer stronger data security and privacy protection than public services. Please consider these options for your university-related work before using unvetted generative AI services.

Google Gemini

AI assistance for writing, research, coding and image generation. Approved for public and internal university data.

Google Gemini Notebook

Source-based research and document analysis. Approved for public and internal university data.

Microsoft 365 Copilot Chat

AI chat, agents, file analysis and image generation. Approved for public and internal university data.

Webex Assistant

Meeting summaries, transcripts and in-meeting AI support. Approved for public, internal, sensitive and restricted university data.

Zoom AI

Meeting notes, summaries, action items and workplace AI assistance. Approved for public, internal and sensitive university data; Secure Zoom is approved for restricted data, including HIPAA health data.

Subscription-based AI services

Available to university faculty and staff on a pay-as-you-go basis.

Amazon Web Services (AWS) Bedrock

Build AI applications and assistants that can interact with university systems and data using foundation models from leading AI companies. Approved for public and internal university data; a cybersecurity evaluation is required for sensitive or restricted data.

Google Cloud Platform (GCP) AI services

Cloud computing resources and access to more than 200 foundation models, including Anthropic’s Claude and Mistral AI’s Mixtral. Approved for public and internal university data; a cybersecurity evaluation is required for sensitive or restricted data.

Microsoft Azure AI services

Cloud computing resources, including access to OpenAI’s API, to process and store public or internal data. Approved for public and internal university data; a cybersecurity evaluation is required for sensitive or restricted data.

AI services at UW–⁠Madison

The 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 that provide secure enterprise AI tools.

AI & institutional data

Never enter sensitive or restricted information like student records, health data or unpublished research into unvetted AI services. Because these services are not under university contracts, they can use any data you enter to train their models. If you have questions about data classification, contact the appropriate data steward.

Contact university data stewards

Policies & ethics

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University policies safeguard institutional data, which everyone at UW is legally and ethically obligated to protect. Remember, AI misuse could violate university rules and legal obligations.

UW–Madison AI policies ​ ​

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
Generative AI ethics ​ ​

When misused, generative AI tools can expose institutional data that the university must protect. UW’s Chief Information Security Officer has provided guidance on protecting university systems and data. If you have questions about classifying data, contact the relevant data steward.

CISO statement on generative AI ​ ​

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.

Events & community

Administrative AI Exchange

Join a virtual community where UW–Madison administrative staff can ask questions, share experiences, and learn how colleagues across the university are using AI in their work. It’s informal, low-pressure, and open to everyone — whether you’re just curious or actively exploring AI tools.

Join the Administrative AI Exchange

AI events

September

More events

AI updates

More Artificial Intelligence news ​ ​

Frequently asked questions

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You should only enter public information into public generative AI tools unless the specific AI service has been reviewed and approved by the university. Never input any sensitive or restricted university data into generative AI tools.

UW–Madison policies govern the use of AI, focusing on responsible use and data protection. These policies emphasize protecting university data, using only public information in AI tools unless officially approved, and considering ethical implications. Read our Generative AI @ UW–⁠Madison: use & policies page for more.

If you’re concerned about data privacy, use only university-approved AI services and follow university guidelines. Do not enter sensitive or restricted university data into AI tools. For more guidance, read the statement from UW’s Chief Information Security Officer.

You can use public data with any AI service. You may use both public and internal university data with any of UW’s approved enterprise AI tools. Some services are also approved for employee use with sensitive and restricted university data under specific circumstances.

Your department may have more guidance or restrictions on employees’ use of AI services. You are responsible for knowing and following your department’s rules and guidelines.

 

You must complete a risk assessment and receive approval from Cybersecurity and your unit’s risk executive — typically your dean or chief administrator — before using sensitive or restricted university data in the university’s subscription cloud AI services.

The KnowledgeBase has many helpful articles on how to use UW’s approved AI tools, including services from Google, Microsoft, Webex and Zoom. Check out the Public Cloud KB for support using the university’s pay-as-you-go AI services.

If you’re having trouble logging in to the university’s approved AI tools with your NetID, contact the DoIT Help Desk.