Using Generative AI Platforms
REMINDER: All purchases of or subscriptions to AI tools must first be vetted and approved by the Information Technology Group (ITG). Purchases that have not been pre-approved may not be reimbursed.
Approved Chat-based Tools
Users can purchase the latest model of ChatGPT for $300 annually (in order to purchase, you will need to provide a UNI and chart string). This enterprise environment provides enhanced security measures and a walled garden environment so the data you enter is not used for model training.
The Education platform includes the Advanced Data Analysis, GPT Builder tool, DALL·E image creation/edition, and integrated browsing with Bing feature. Individual OpenAI subscriptions outside of CUIT ChatGPT Education will not be reimbursed.
Google Gemini is now available to the Columbia University community. This service provides access to Google’s most advanced AI models in a secure, education-focused environment. Gemini supports multimodal capabilities—working with text, images, and code—so you can handle diverse academic and research tasks in one place.
NotebookLM is now available to the Columbia University community. This AI-powered research and note-taking assistant helps you organize, summarize, and synthesize information from your own documents and trusted sources.
CUIT offers an expanding suite of AI services designed to open new modes of discovery in interdisciplinary research and to enhance productivity. Visit here for updates on new AI services, documentation and support resources. Individual subscriptions for these services will not be reimbursed.
Approved API Tools
- OpenAI API Key: an advanced AI service offering powerful natural language processing capabilities, including text generation, comprehension, and interaction. It supports academic research, administrative efficiency, and collaborative learning across the campus, tailored for use by researchers, faculty, and staff.
Request an OpenAI API Key. You will need to provide a billing chart sting and a budget amount. This budget will cover monthly token usage, which will be monitored based on the amount allocated. Once the budget limit is reached, API access will be paused, and an additional request will be required to continue usage.
All other AI tools require pre-approval.
Approval Process
Send an E-mail to [email protected] including the following information:
— What tool would you like to use?
— What task(s) are you planning to use the tool for?
— What data/information are you entering?
— Will the data entered by used for training (if you don't know, please also indicate)?
— Is there IP involved?
Security Review Process
— If you are using an approved tool (e.g., CU-GPT), no security review is required.
— If the vendor has already completed the security review process by CUIT, ITG only needs to understand the intended use and the data being entered into the tool, per the questions above.
— For all new software and vendor services, to ensure solutions are secure and CU/CBS data is protected, ITG will perform Security/Risk reviews. The review will ensure that 1. no existing solution is available that meets requirements of the new purchase and 2. technical architecture of the solution meets University standards. For more information please see the CU data classification policy.