Artificial Intelligence
What is AI?
Artificial Intelligence (AI) is a rapidly growing field that changes the way we live, work and learn. The impact of AI is being felt across a wide range of industries, and it is becoming increasingly important for educators and students to have a basic understanding of these tools.
With the wide range of AI tools available, there are many opportunities to explore and create new applications in this exciting field.
Who is it For?
AI is for everyone! Check out AI Communities.
What Can I Do With AI?
With the currently available tools, you can use AI to create digital artwork, write text, edit and improve audio, find topic-based articles for research, and more.
For Students:
Ethical and Responsible Use of AI for Students
The CSU is committed to preparing students to use AI tools effectively and ethically while earning their degrees and in their careers beyond graduation. The following are some examples of AI use as a CSU student in your courses, but provided you have engaged with your instructor about how the tools should be used in the course. Read more about Ethical and Responsible use of AI for Students.
Student Competition
Congratulations to the winners of CSUN AI Jam 2025!
CSUN AI Jam 2025 was an exciting student competition where teams of up to two students applied Artificial Intelligence to address real-world challenges on our campus. This competition challenged students to identify a campus problem, explore possible AI-based solutions, and propose a plan to implement the solution.
Participation in AI Jam provided students with the opportunity to showcase their skills while proposing innovative solutions to enhance campus life. The competition aimed to promote creativity, collaboration, and a deeper understanding of the evolving impact of AI in our daily lives.
For Faculty:
Cal State Tech is looking for AI innovations in the CSU to showcase during AI in July!
Are you working on something exciting with AI and want to share your project or prototype with the Cal State Tech community?
Fill out the CSU Showcase Interest Form to propose an idea during weekly showcase events. The Showcase submissions will be accepted through May 15th.
Check out what Academic Technology is doing with AI!
CSUN AI Hub in Canvas
The CSUN AI Hub is a living repository curated by the Academic Technology team, offering continuously updated information on licensed AI tools, campus guidance, and professional development opportunities.
For Staff:
From the AAC&U
You may also be interested in the American Association of Colleges & Universities’ (AAC&U) AI Week webinars and/or their recordings.
AI Tools
From data analysis to Natural Language Processing (NLP), there is a wide range of AI tools that can help automate tasks, uncover new insights, and make more informed decisions. Some of the most innovative and exciting AI tools available today include ChatGPT, Chat BA, Elicit.org, and ExplainPaper. There is also a site that helps you find the right AI tool for you.
Guidelines for Safe and Responsible Use of Generative AI Tools
Generative AI is a subset of artificial intelligence technologies that can generate new content, including but not limited to text, visuals, audio, and code, in response to user prompts. The California State University encourages the creative and curious use of Generative AI technologies, while also ensuring careful observance of data security, privacy, compliance with regulations, and respect for intellectual property. Read more about the CSU's safe and responsible use.
- ChatGPT is an advanced conversational AI tool developed by OpenAI. This tool can generate natural language responses to text inputs, making it possible to create virtual assistants, chatbots, and other conversational interfaces. To learn more about ChatGPT at CSUN, visit ChatGPT Edu.
Microsoft Copilot is an AI-powered tool that assists users in various tasks, making work more efficient and productive. Need more info? Visit CSUN's Microsoft Copilot page.
Logging In & Access
Free Version
- Go to the MS Copilot page.
- Select the Sign-in button at the top right. Select work account or personal account. In this example we chose Work.
- Enter your CSUN email address and select Next.
- You'll be redirected to the CSUN login page. Enter your CSUN credentials and select Login. Authorize with Duo.
- After this, you will be in the interface and can enter a prompt to begin.
Paid Version (Copilot for Office 365)
To access the paid version of Copilot for Office 365, a license request must be made. There is a cost of $30 per license and a 2.75% overhead fee. Please review the process below:
- The service requestor initiates a license request. Go to TopDesk and select the License Request Form button to the right. Complete the form and submit. Number of licenses and user info will be required.
- IT requests a quote from the vendor.
- IT updates the requestor with their quote and requests a chargeback.
- Requesting Department has to enter a chargeback to IT for the quote amount PLUS a 2.75% overhead fee.
- Once we have received the chargeback, IT will submit an order to the vendor.
- Licenses should be available within a week after we give the order to the vendor.
- Once received, IT or tech support for your area, will install the license/s to the requested group account/s.
Please note, these orders will be completed monthly. Requests submitted with paid chargebacks by the 15th of each month will be ordered.
- Google Gemini is an AI-powered assistant designed to live within your Google Workspace tools and help you be more productive and creative. It can summarize information, draft content, and even generate new ideas, all while keeping your data secure.
- Chat BA: An AI-powered virtual assistant that can be used to make slide decks.
- Elicit.org: This paid tool can be used for evaluating academic references such as authors, titles, abstracts, and citation data. Elicit currently works best for answering questions with empirical research (e.g. randomized controlled trials). These tend to be questions in biomedicine, social science, and economics. Questions like "What are the effects of ____ on ____?" tend to work best.
- ExplainPaper: This platform utilizes machine learning to condense scientific papers into a simplified and comprehensible format. It employs Natural Language Processing techniques to extract the insights and advancements outlined in the paper.
- Futuretools.io: This site collects and organizes many of the AI tools available. You can search by categories for different AI tasks.
AI and Privacy
As with any online service, there are privacy concerns to consider when signing up for any AI tool. It's important to carefully review the terms of service and privacy policy of any AI tool you are considering using to ensure that you are comfortable with the data collection and usage practices.
AI and Accessibility
Discover the intersection of AI and accessibility! Learn how AI tools can serve as assistive technology, enhancing learning experiences for students with disabilities, while also recognizing the importance of ensuring AI’s own accessibility. Explore how AI can facilitate universal design, and understand the considerations when utilizing AI in your courses.