Generative AI at Oxford

Oxford is committed to ensuring the safe and responsible use of GenAI tools across the University, through the provision of secure, enterprise-level tools, training and support. While adoption has been rapid and widespread, there is ongoing debate about the application of GenAI in higher education from a range of perspectives.

To support the rollout of GenAI tools across the University and Oxford Colleges, our AI training programme has been expanded. All staff and students can access free, ongoing training and support, delivered by in-house specialists from the Digital Capabilities team (see the new 'getting started' courses below), at the AI Competency Centre, the Centre for Teaching and Learning, the Bodleian Libraries, the Oxford Research Software Engineers Group, and by academic communication specialists at the Oxford University Language Centre. Our workshops and courses emphasise the importance of human involvement, critical thinking, and ethical and responsible application.

Recordings of key sessions are available on Canvas (SSO login required). Staff and students can also access free training in getting started with ChatGPT Edu, any time, through the OpenAI Academy.

Introductory training

Free, 90-minute courses:

• Your First Steps with ChatGPT Edu for staff (online or in-person)
• Your First Steps with Google Gemini for staff (online or in-person)
• Introduction to Generative AI: Hands-on session for staff and students (in-person) 

Intermediate training

Free 90-minute course:

• Next Steps with ChatGPT Edu for staff (online or in-person)

Group training

Free group courses available for departments and colleges to book at a time that suits them:

• Making Good Learning Decisions with Generative AI for students (online or in-person)
• Your First Steps with ChatGPT Edu for staff (online or in-person)
• Next Steps with ChatGPT Edu for staff (online or in-person) 

How students and scholars use GenAI at Oxford

Through tailored workshops, accessible tools and expert support, the University provides personalised guidance to integrate generative AI tools into education effectively and responsibly. In its integration with education, GenAI has the potential to enhance work and study in specific contexts, but it cannot replace the critical thinking and originality that define academic excellence.

By helping students to use and experience generative AI, we are preparing people for life in an AI-enabled world. Oxford was one of the leading contributors to the Russell Group Principles on generative AI and has adopted them for AI in teaching and assessment.

Today, the University is leading the way in ensuring inclusive access in a secure environment, for all staff and students.

How researchers use GenAI at Oxford

Research is central to Oxford’s mission, and generative AI is unlocking extraordinary opportunities to advance our knowledge across many disciplines. While the appropriate application of GenAI varies across academic contexts and disciplines, Oxford’s inclusive provision of GenAI tools offers a secure environment for exploration and innovation.

By enabling researchers to analyse vast datasets, generate hypotheses, and visualise complex results at unprecedented speed and scale, GenAI has the potential to accelerate the pace of scientific discovery. In many areas of the arts, humanities, and social sciences, there is potential to open up new creative possibilities, synthesise data to produce unique interpretations, and model intricate systems to explore uncharted academic terrain.

Find out about Application Programming Interface (API) access for University researchers.

How professional services staff use GenAI at Oxford

GenAI is an enabler, which can be used to help make aspects of work simpler, faster and easier. It provides opportunities to boost productivity and make operational processes more efficient – to improve services for students and academics, to reduce workload burdens, boost productivity, and free up capacity for high-impact activities such as professional development and continuous improvement. By offering all staff the opportunity to access secure, enterprise-level GenAI tools, the University is upskilling and preparing professional services staff for an AI-driven future.

Technical help and support with GenAI tools, including ChatGPT Edu, is available to all staff and students.

1. Consider first seeking support from the company whose product you're using:

• ChatGPT Edu: For access and activation queries, please use the OpenAI help portal. You can use the chat at the bottom of the page to ask questions and connect with support by clicking on the Message tab. If you are unable to resolve your issue through the help portal, then you should contact OpenAI support directly by email at [email protected].
• Microsoft Copilot: The Microsoft Support site can be searched to assist with queries on Copilot.
• Google Gemini: Google's Gemini Apps Help page offers various pieces of advice and support for using Gemini.
• NotebookLM: Google’s NotebookLM Help page covers help topics from getting started to troubleshooting NotebookLM.

If your query is about whether an outage is affecting your connection to a particular tool, try the relevant status pages:

• OpenAI Status page for ChatGPT Edu
• Microsoft Status page for Microsoft Copilot
• Google Status page for Google Gemini and NotebookLM

2. For simple queries regarding University-supported GenAI tools and support, use the AI Competency Centre chatbot to be directed to relevant information.

3. Contact the University's IT Service Desk if you need more support. They can help you with ChatGPT Edu, Microsoft Copilot or the GenAI tools in the University's Google workspace (Gemini and NotebookLM). If your query needs escalating, the IT Service Desk will involve our GenAI specialists at the AI Competency Centre or signpost you to tailored support from elsewhere in the University, as needed.

The University’s Digital Governance Unit (the DGU) is responsible for the governance of GenAI provision for staff and students. This is overseen by an AI Governance Group which brings together representatives from across the University and Oxford Colleges and provides assurance to the Information and Digital Committee (IDC), a committee of the University Council. The AI Governance Group is chaired by Professor Stuart Lee, Deputy Chief Digital & Information Officer and Director of the DGU.

You can contact the DGU at [email protected].

Find out more about AI Governance (staff/student SSO login required).

Read our guiding principles for acceptable use of GenAI tools and agents (staff/student SSO login required).

Content on this webpage is subject to continuous review, in response to the rapidly evolving AI landscape.