Why Clicking the Microphone Icon in UT Verse Makes All the Difference 

4/28/2025
Have you tried clicking on the microphone icon in UT Verse AI Assistant? If not, you’re missing out on an exciting way to interact with AI. Speech-to-text adds layers of context and nuance to your prompts that typing alone can’t achieve. 

Here’s how it works: 

• Speak your thoughts aloud for as long as you need to, sharing as much detail as possible. 
• It’s an iterative process: Review the output, refine your prompts, and even provide vocal feedback to guide the results. 
• Translate your voice into another language by using Speech Translations, configurable from the App Settings under Personalize. 

The speech-to-text method is perfect for professional writing, teaching, and creative projects. It allows you to express ideas authentically and with precision—all while saving time. 

Visit UT Verse and click the microphone icon to try speech-to-text!  

Have you tried UT Verse with Web Search?

4/14/2025
UT Verse now offers an advanced Web Search skill that not only performs searches for news, web pages, images, and videos but also deeply analyzes the findings to provide detailed sources and citations in footnotes. Activate this feature from the Skills Option Menu or by clicking the globe icon next to the Prompt Input Zone. This efficient tool prioritizes specific websites like arXiv or Wikipedia upon request and the improved footnote system ensures easy reference with icons, numeration, and a “go back” button for seamless navigation.

UT Verse Immersive Screen Reader

4/7/2025
Do you enjoy listening to books being read to you? If so, you’re going to really enjoy the Immersive Screen Reader included in UT Verse. Not only can it read aloud but also translates them into multiple languages, highlights grammar, and even shows you pictures for new vocabulary.

The Immersive Screen Reader is a tool designed to support users of all abilities. It can read text aloud, making it easier for users with visual impairments or reading difficulties to absorb content. The translation feature helps language learners and non-native speakers by converting text into multiple languages. Grammar tools highlight parts of speech and break words into syllables, aiding pronunciation and understanding. Focus Reading allows users to concentrate on a few lines of text at a time, reducing distractions and improving concentration. The Picture Dictionary feature lets users hover over words to see a picture representation, which is especially useful for young learners and those learning new vocabulary. Customization options enable users to adjust the text layout, including font style, size, and spacing, to suit their reading preferences. Additionally, Immersive Screen Reader offers high contrast modes and other accessibility features to support users with visual impairments.

These features make Immersive Reader a powerful tool that can transform the way users read and learn, enhancing their overall educational experience at UT. Give it a try and see how it can enhance your learning journey at UT. Don’t miss out on this powerful feature, start using Immersive Screen Reader today!

Watch the UT Verse immersive reader in action in this the four-minute video?
For additional help with the features within UT Verse, contact the OIT HelpDesk at 865-974-9900.

How to Check for UT Verse Updates

3/31/2025
Have you ever wondered what’s new with UT Verse? Whenever there are new updates, a notification will appear at the top of the application. From here, you can choose to dismiss the notification or find out more about what has changed. We periodically add new features, fix issues and improve the app in many ways. Keep an eye out for this notification!

To see the update history, open the drawer menu on the left and click on Settings. Then, follow the Updates menu item on the left for a list of history items.

Audio Capabilities of UT Verse AI Assistant

3/24/2025
UT Verse has a few nice audio features, enabling users to engage with the AI through spoken communication. These features are fundamentally divided into two components: speech input and audio output.

For speech input, users can activate the microphone icon within the prompt writing area and speak their questions. The AI converts the spoken input, transcribing it into text form and entering it into the prompt window. This allows for a more fluid and intuitive method of interaction, particularly beneficial in situations where typing text is impossible.

For audio output, a speaker icon appears atop each AI response. Clicking this icon triggers the AI to read the response aloud. This feature enhances accessibility, catering to users who may have visual impairments or who simply prefer listening to the information.

UT Verse extends its speaking and listening capabilities beyond English, offering multilingual support. Users can navigate to the AI Settings section to configure their preferred language, enabling the AI to comprehend and generate responses in a variety of languages. This feature broadens the scope of UT Verse, making it a versatile tool for a diverse user base.

For additional help with audio features within UT Verse, contact the OIT HelpDesk by phone (865) 974-9900 or submit an AI request online.

Unlock the Power of Image Analysis with UT Verse: Your Personal AI Assistant Awaits!

3/10/2025
Imagine having a personal assistant that can instantly analyze the images you upload! After uploading an image, you can ask questions about it, such as detailed descriptions and insights.  

How to upload images:

1. Start a New Chat: Begin by starting a new chat in the AI platform.
2. Upload the Image: Click on the upload button and select the image you want to analyze. These images can be anything from photographs to charts, depending on the purpose of the analysis. Alternatively, if you have your image copied to a clipboard, such as a screenshot, you can paste it directly into the input box to upload it.
3. Interact with the AI: Once the image is uploaded, you can now ask the AI questions you want answered about the image. Simply enter a prompt; for example, “Tell me what you see in the image I uploaded” or “Provide the details about this image.”

Benefits and Use Cases:

Uploading images to UT Verse can be very beneficial to enhance your workflow and as well as be used as an accessibility tool.

Take, for example, if you upload a series of business cards you have collected at a UT conference, you could then ask UT Verse to generate a CSV file that is compatible with Microsoft Outlook for contacts.

Another example is if you have taken a picture with your phone of a sign, document, or menu and need it translated. With this feature, you could do so and have it translated into the language that you need it in.

You can go even further by asking it what it knows about the image’s technical information. It will give a list of what it recognizes and its confidence score.

UT Verse can even go further by recognizing charts in an image and providing insights. It can also help create helpful alt tags for images to be used on a website.

Have you ever experienced issues with your computer or encountered an obscure error code? Simply take a screenshot of the error (such as event viewer), paste it in the input box (Ctrl+v), and have UT Verse answer your question! If you need up-to-date information, be sure to enable the internet skill, and UT Verse will search the internet for a solution.

Ready to experience the power of UT Verse?

Start uploading your images today and unlock valuable insights with just a few clicks. Whether you’re looking to analyze photographs, charts, or any other visual data, UT Verse is here to help. If you have any questions, please reach out to the OIT HelpDesk at 865-974-9900. We are ready and willing to help you with your AI adventure.

Upload and Chat with Your Documents in UT Verse

3/3/2025
Did you know UT Verse lets you upload files and interact with them using AI? Whether you need to analyze a report, extract key insights, or even get help filling out complex forms, Document Chat makes it easy to work with your files.

What You Can Do:

• Upload and Chat—Drop in documents (Word, PDF, code files, and more) and ask AI questions about the content.
• Image & OCR Support—Upload images to extract text, get form-filling guidance, or help troubleshoot from screenshots.
• Streamline Your Workflow—Let AI summarize, clarify, or enhance your files without manual searching.

How to Get Started:

Just Drag and Drop files or click the Upload File icon in the prompt text box to add files.

Need more details? Log in to UT Verse, click Settings, Help, and then Document Uploads to access full documentation.

Try it today, and let AI do the heavy lifting!

Downloading a Chat with UT Verse as a Word Document

2/24/2025
Downloading chats as Word documents offers several advantages. First, Word documents are universally accessible and can be opened on various devices and operating systems. Second, they allow for easy editing and formatting, enabling you to highlight key points or add annotations. Third, Word documents can be securely stored on OneDrive and shared, protecting sensitive information.

To download a chat with UT Verse,

• Complete your conversation with UT Verse until you have all the necessary information.
• When you have completed your chat, initiate the download process. 
• You will be prompted to select where you want to save the document on your device.
• Once downloaded, you can save your document to OneDrive and are able to make changes as needed.
• Open it using Microsoft Word to review and edit as needed.

For university faculty and staff, downloading chats with UT Verse can streamline various processes. For instance, faculty members can save informational responses from UT Verse for future reference or share relevant details with colleagues. Administrative staff can archive important instructions or policy clarifications provided by UT Verse, ensuring that all relevant information is documented and easily accessible. UT Verse attempts to replicate what you see in the chat into the Word document. This is beneficial when rich text, columns, and media are part of the chat.

Following these steps, you can efficiently download and manage your chat conversations with UT Verse in Word documents. This helps maintain organized records and enhances collaboration and communication within the university environment.

For questions about UT Verse, contact the OIT HelpDesk at: 865-974-9900.

What is an AI Assistant?

2/17/2025
Introducing the AI Assistant in UT Verse: your tool for effortlessly integrating personalized context into every interaction. Rather than manually inputting your preferences each time—whether it’s your unique email style, note-taking habits, or course materials—you set up the AI Assistant once. From then on, it ensures every prompt is precise and tailored to your needs right from the start.

• Are you wondering how this can transform your workflow?
  Watch our video, “Why should I create and use an AI Assistant?“ for a comprehensive overview.
• Ready to get started?
  Sign in to UT Verse and follow the step-by-step guides located under the Help Menu to create your own AI Assistant. 

Improve your productivity and AI interactions with AI Assistants!

You Can Type Like You Speak—No Experience Required

2/10/2025
Do you think you need special skills to get the most from AI? Think again! With UT Verse AI Assistant, your natural, everyday language is all you need to achieve incredible results.

Why It Works

1. No Experience Required: While prompt engineering has its place, you’ve spent your life learning to communicate. AI leverages that skill set seamlessly, adapting to your natural expression.
   
2. Built for Everyone: UT Verse is designed to understand and respond to diverse communication styles such as casual, formal, technical, or conversational. Its comprehensive training ensures it works for you regardless of your background or approach.

Key Tip

Treat AI like a conversation. Start with clear, simple language as though explaining your goals to someone unfamiliar with you and your topic. Share your intent and context, and UT Verse will tailor solutions to your needs. Whether you type or speak, it’s ready to meet you where you are.

Curious about what AI can do for what matters to you? Whether it’s enhancing a project or tackling a challenge, discover how natural language can help you take the next step.

Sign in to UT Verse today to start exploring.

Crafting Effective Prompts: The Key to Unlocking UT Verse

You finally opened UT Verse to see what it’s all about. You’ve got a blank page staring back at you, and you need some information. But how do you actually start prompting UTV? The answer lies in the power of your prompt. A good prompt is like a spark, igniting your thoughts and leading you to answers. Think of your prompt as a question or a suggestion that points you toward the information you are seeking.

Getting Started

Be Specific + State Your Intent + Direct the Output Format

• Vague questions return vague responses. Provide details.
  Instead of saying, “Tell me about the libraries on campus.” try, “Tell me about Hodges Library book collection and services.”
• If you have a specific purpose for your question, state it in the prompt.
  Instead of asking, “Explain quantum physics.” try, “I’m a freshman physics student at the university. Explain quantum physics in an easy-to-understand form.”
• Tell the AI how you want the information returned.
  “I’m teaching a class of freshman writing students at the university. Create a list of creative writing topics about attending an event on campus.”

Next Steps

• Ask follow-up questions to get more information or details about your questions.
• Experiment with alternative phrasing.
  Rewording the questions can often get you a better result.
• Prompt the AI to do a fact check.
  “Please check the facts in your reply.”
• Ask the AI to return the response in a different tone or in the voice of a famous person.
  “Tell me about Hodges Library in the voice of Mark Twain.”
• Give the AI an expert role.
  “You are a contract law expert. Write a simple bill of sale for a used car.”