With the introduction of ChatGPT and other AI services, there is a great deal of fascination with the technology. As with any technology, our duties to protect and preserve the data we use to perform our work do not change.  

OIT has partnered with Microsoft to create the UT Verse AI Assistant, a chat-based, AI-powered platform specific to the University of Tennessee faculty, staff, and students. This environment has security and protections, giving faculty, staff, and students assurance of data confidentiality.

The UT System has no agreements with other AI developers that provide any assurance of data confidentiality. Putting data into ChatGPT or similar services is equivalent to disclosing the data to the public. We must use the same data-sharing precautions we use daily with the new technology.  

UT Verse AI Assistant is the only chat-based AI program that should be used for the following information: 

• Research data and intellectual property 
• Source code 
• Proprietary data  
• Internal meeting notes 
• Hardware related information 
• Presentation notes
• Emails 

UT Verse AI Assistant (or any AI chat) should not be used for conversations related to protected data, such as FERPA, HIPAA, PCI, or other federal/state statutes. Examples of data that should not be used in AI chat conversations include but are not limited to:

• SSN 
• Credit Card Numbers 
• Personally identifiable medical information 
• Financial Aid information 
• Student names and grades 

While generative AI may be a valuable tool, our use is limited by our control over how data is stored and accessed. Please be cognizant of our data stewardship responsibilities as you explore these new technologies and their capabilities.