Generative AI Tools
There are several generative AI tools available for USF students, faculty and staff to use. Each tool has unique features, and it's important to be aware of how they operate to make an informed decision on how you use AI and the kinds of information you provide to these models.
USF provides Microsoft Copilot with enterprise data protection to students, faculty and staff, which is a preferred AI tool for working with USF files and data.
About Microsoft Copilot
Copilot Chat: Microsoft Copilot Chat is available to all USF students and employees. Unlike ChatGPT, the tool can be used in a secure, encrypted environment to maintain data privacy. The data you shared with Copilot Enterprise remains within USF and is not used to train AI models. Visit IT's Microsoft Copilot Chat support page for information about how to access the tool. Check out Microsoft's Copilot documentation for additional information and support.
Copilot for M365: Copilot for M365 licenses are available for departmental purchase for USF employees. M365 Copilot is an advanced tool designed to support the productivity of university faculty and staff by leveraging artificial intelligence. It integrates with Microsoft 365 applications such as Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook, and Teams. This tool provides intelligent assistance in real-time, enhancing the user’s ability to create, perform tasks efficiently, and develop new skills.
Copilot Cowork: Copilot Cowork is a new AI-powered capability that can complete multi-step tasks on your behalf. Unlike traditional chat-based AI, Cowork can plan, coordinate, and execute work across Microsoft 365 and connected business systems while keeping you in control through approval checkpoints. It is designed to help employees automate repetitive processes, gather information from multiple sources, and produce finished work products more efficiently. Available through usage-based billing, Copilot Cowork is best suited for complex workflows that would normally require significant manual effort. Click here for more details about Cowork and the current usage-based billing model.
Below, please explore a detailed comparison of the modern generative AI tools that are currently available.
| Public genAI | Copilot Chat (Basic) | M365 Copilot (Premium) | Copilot Cowork |
Availability | Anyone with free or paid individual accounts. | Automatically integrated into USF student and employee accounts. | Individual employee licenses are available for departmental purchase here. | Available through usage-based billing, so it scales with the work you delegate. Pricing information is available here. |
Privacy | Prompts should be considered public, much like social media posts, and are used to train AI models. Employees are responsible for the safety of enterprise data. | Unlike the public tools, your prompts and results are protected inside USF’s environment and not used to train public AI models. | Unlike the public tools, your prompts and results are protected inside USF’s environment and not used to train public AI models. | Unlike the public tools, your prompts and results are protected inside USF’s environment and not used to train public AI models. |
Data Source | Primarily uses publicly available information from the internet; capabilities vary by tool/account. | Can use current web information and information provided in the conversation while keeping prompts/results within USF's protected environment. | Can use web information plus relevant information from your Microsoft 365 environment. | Can use information from M365 and connected business systems to perform more complex, multi-step tasks. |
Features | Conversational AI | Conversational AI with AI model choice that includes task‑specific agents driven by prompts. | Conversational AI with AI model choice that is integrated into M365 apps, provides advanced search, chat, agents leveraging your Microsoft 365 files and data, and Microsoft-built agents (Researcher, Analyst, etc.). | Conversational AI with AI model choice that completes multi-step tasks on your behalf. It plans the steps, picks the right skills and apps, pauses for your approval at key checkpoints, and returns finished artifacts. |
Models | GPT (Open AI), Google Gemini, Claude (Anthropic), Meta Llama, etc. | GPT (Open AI) and Claude (Anthropic) | GPT (Open AI) and Claude (Anthropic) | GPT (Open AI) and Claude (Anthropic) |
Suited For | General brainstorming, writing, researching the web, and other non-sensitive tasks. | Everyday AI assistance within USF's protected environment. | Working with and creating content across Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook, Teams, and other M365 apps. | Complex, multi-step work that can be delegated to an AI agent. |
Sample Prompts (ex/ meeting preparation) | "I'm planning a monthly meeting for a 15-person department about how to increase employee engagement. Suggest 8 agenda topics and 5 discussion questions that will get people talking" | "Here are my notes and last month's agenda [file/text insert]. Draft a 45-minute agenda with time blocks, an owner for each item, and a one-line purpose" | "Using my emails and documents from the past month about the department meeting, draft the agenda and summarize the open items I still owe the team" | "Prepare my department meeting: review last month's notes, Teams chats, and recent email threads, identify open action items, build the agenda, create a short PowerPoint presentation and draft an email with an agenda for the team" |
What are agents?
Agents are specialized AI assistants designed to help with specific tasks or workflows. Rather than simply providing information, they can gather the right data, follow instructions, and complete a series of steps to help you reach a desired outcome. Think of them as digital teammates that assist with routine work so you can focus on higher-value tasks.
Learn more about agents here.
Ethical Guidance for Generative AI at USF
Click here for the most current established guidelines.
AI is a rapidly evolving technology. The information on this page is subject to change quickly and without much notice. This page has been updated as of September 2026.