General Information related to Artificial Intelligence
Artificial Intelligence (AI) refers to the concept and creation of computer systems that can carry out tasks tradionally requiring human intelligence. These tasks include things like understanding spoken language, making informed decisions, and recognizing patterns in data.
Why It matters:
AI tools can save time, improve accuracy, and support staff in delivering better services to students and faculty.
Traditional AI, often referred to as narrow AI, is built to perform specific, well-defined tasks. It excels at analyzing structured data and producing predetermined results based on that analysis.
However, traditional AI lacks creative capabilities. While it can analyze data, detects trends and make predictions, it cannot generate original content or ideas independently. Its role is more about processing and responding than creating.
TRU trusted AI model, Microsoft 365 Copilot
Copilot is a conversational, AI-powered assistant that uses generative AI to help boost productivity and streamline workflows.
It provides contextual assistance, automates routine tasks, and analyses data so you can focus on more important work. Think of it as a smart partner that understands your needs and helps you get things done faster.
The biggest difference is that Copilot standard offers basic AI tools, while Copilot Premium expands these features across all Microsoft 365 application for deeper integration and enhanced functionality.
Key differences are summarized in the following table:
| Feature | Copilot | Copilot Premium |
| Platform Access | Browser-only/Copilot App | Full Microsoft 365 Suite (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook, etc.) |
| Conversational AI | Yes | Yes |
| Web Search | Yes | Yes |
| Image Understanding | Yes | Yes |
| Image Generation | Yes | Yes |
| Multilingual Support | Yes | Yes |
| Emphatic Responses | Yes | Yes |
| Microsoft Apps Integration | No | Yes |
| Content Creation | Basic drafting, summarizing, and editing | Advanced drafting, summarizing, and editing across M365 apps |
| Data Analysis & Visualization | No | Yes, with advanced tools in Excel |
| Meeting Assistance | No | Yes, with summaries and catch-up on missed meetings |
| Cross-Application Intelligence | No | Yes, with contextual responses across M365 apps |
| Workflow Automation | No | Yes, using Copilot Studio |
The TRU standard Copilot license only supports browser use, while the premium license allows access in M365 applications.
No, Microsoft manages all chat data. When commercial data protection is enabled, your information is neither stored nor used to train models.
Microsoft Copilot’s Enterprise Data Protection helps keep organizational information safe. It stops chat data from being saved, shared, or used to train AI. This protects people’s personal details and follows TRU’s security rules.
Enterprise Data Protection is enabled when you use Copilot with your TRU account, keeping your session data secure and inaccessible to anyone outside your organization. Data is not saved or used beyond your session.
No, copilot doesn’t share your information outside of TRU.
The IT admins can track the activity for security purposes but they can’t monitor or see your search history in Copilot.
You can upload files like documents, spreadsheets, and images into Copilot for analysis, summarization, and other tasks. Copilot supports many file types, and your data isn’t stored or used to train the model.
Yes, Copilot works with Microsoft Edge and other major browsers like Chrome, Firefox, and Safari.
Yes, Copilot uses Python for data analysis, coding, visualization, and more tasks. It even lets you see the code it generates for these tasks.