Getting Started

Western provides access to two institutionally licensed AI tools: Microsoft Copilot Chat and Google Gemini Enterprise. These are the recommended tools for Western work because they are accessed through your Western account and include institutional privacy and data-protection safeguards. If you are working with Sensitive Data, use one of these approved tools rather than a personal or consumer AI account. Examples of Sensitive Data include draft budgets and planning documents, internal project reports, pre-approval meeting minutes, non-identifiable research data, and internal financial or operational information. Do not enter personally identifiable information (PII) or Confidential Data. Learn more about Western’s data classifications here.

When you are logged in with your Western credentials, Copilot Chat/Gemini includes Enterprise Data Protection, so it is okay to use with sensitive Western data. Be aware that confidential data must be treated with extra caution. Even in an approved tool, using confidential data requires additional review first, which may include a Privacy Impact Assessment. More information can be found on the Using AI page.

Both tools can support everyday work, including drafting, summarizing, researching, working with files, preparing materials, creating presentations, and generating images. They are a strong place to start if you are looking to use generative AI in your work at Western.

   Microsoft Copilot Chat

Copilot Chat is a secure, enterprise-grade generative AI assistant available to the Western University community, built upon a specialized version of OpenAI's GPT models. Copilot Chat at Western includes Enterprise Data Protection, ensuring that any information shared within the chat is not used to train the underlying models and remains isolated within Western's protected environment.

Copilot Chat is included with your Western license at no charge. When you are logged in with your Western credentials, Copilot Chat includes Enterprise Data Protection, so it is okay to use with sensitive Western data. Be aware that confidential data must be treated with extra caution. Even in an approved tool, using confidential data requires additional review first, which may include a Privacy Impact Assessment. More information can be found on the Using AI page.

A separately licensed, paid version, Microsoft 365 Copilot, provides the same enterprise data protections while integrating Copilot directly into Microsoft 365 applications such as Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook, and Teams. It is available to faculty and staff who purchase a licence.

  Google Gemini Enterprise 

Google Gemini is a secure, enterprise-grade generative AI assistant available to the Western University community, built upon Google's frontier AI models. Gemini at Western includes robust institutional data privacy protections, ensuring that any information, documents, or data shared within the chat are not used to train Google’s models and remain strictly isolated within Western's protected environment.

Gemini at Western is integrated with your university account, providing features like secure, permissions-aware data connectors to search your workspace files alongside Google Search grounding.

Access to Google Gemini is currently being provided as part of a pilot project to evaluate the product's capabilities, technical integration, and overall utility for our campus.

This pilot is included under Western's institutional licensing for eligible faculty and staff at no charge.

For more detailed information, guidance, and practical resources, explore the AI at Western website. You’ll find dedicated information on Microsoft Copilot Chat and Google Gemini Enterprise, along with guidance on prompting, privacy, responsible use, and working with AI at Western. This site also includes resources on other AI tools and emerging technologies that may support teaching, research, and administrative work.