Smart and secure: Choose Copilot for your chatbot through Rutgers Connect

If you’re still using the free version of a random AI chatbot, you have a better alternative—the Microsoft Copilot chatbot that’s available through Rutgers. With Copilot through Rutgers, you’re essentially getting the same features ChatGPT and other chatbots offer, and more data protection, within a free tool that you can easily access with your Rutgers account.

How’s that possible? It’s part of an agreement between Microsoft and OpenAI explained Lys Andrejic, an application developer within the Office of Information Technology who is part of the team responsible for administering and maintaining Rutgers Connect. That agreement makes certain ChatGPT chatbot features, like Think Deeper and Quick Response accessible within Copilot chat.

A key feature when using Copilot chat or the other AI tools available at Rutgers: sign in to your Rutgers account, whether it’s through Rutgers Connect or ScarletApps. You’ll get data protection that isn’t available in commercial products.

“When you sign into your Rutgers Connect or ScarletApps account, your conversations with Copilot are protected,” Lys said. “The models can’t use the data inputs for training, which means the chatbot can’t train or learn from the information we’re giving it.”

Accessing ChatGPT chatbot features is as easy as visiting Microsoft’s Copilot website and signing in with your Rutgers Connect or ScarletApps account. Connect users can also choose the Copilot icon from the left menu in Outlook on the web, too.

Once you’ve accessed Copilot:

• Look for a dropdown menu marked “Auto” in the top right corner of the screen.
• Click the menu, and select the GPT option.
• Choose Think Deeper or Quick Response modules. The numbers next to each indicate the ChatGPT version that’s being used.
• Think Deeper will spend more time on reasoning, so responses take longer to generate. Meanwhile, Quick Response prioritizes time and provides a straightforward response quickly.

If someone doesn’t select any option, Copilot selects the model it thinks will best answer your question, depending on whether the question is simple or more complex.

Microsoft’s capabilities aren’t limited to OpenAI’s models. By purchasing a monthly subscription to Microsoft 365 Copilot, you can access Anthropic’s Claude modules, as well as receiving AI-driven assistance in Outlook, Word, Teams and other Microsoft 365 products.

Regardless of whether you select an OpenAI-driven model or a Microsoft-built model or a paid tool versus a no-cost option, signing in with your Rutgers account is a must.

“If people are going to use Copilot, or access the ChatGPT features in it, they should be using the best, most protected version of the product,” Lys added.

Tags: artificial intelligence, Rutgers Connect, technology trends