Versions Compared

Key

  • This line was added.
  • This line was removed.
  • Formatting was changed.
Table of Contents
minLevel1
maxLevel6
outlinefalse
stylenone
typelist
printabletrue

Service Overview

Generative Artificial Intelligence (or Gen AI) is a type of artificial intelligence that can be used to create content, such as text, images, video, and music. As a rapidly evolving area of technology, Generative AI has introduced many areas of opportunity , but also introduces challenges and potential risk. The In addition to the content on this page, the campus community is strongly encouraged to read and review the information on Artificial Intelligence at Portland State University page to help ensure the responsible and safe use , which includes a wide variety of Gen AI at PSUinformation and resources.

Faculty, staff, and students have access to the baseline version of Google’s Gen AI products, Gemini and NotebookLM. When you are logged in with your pdx.edu account, Google will not use the data you enter into Gemini or NotebookLM for training the AI model or for human review. Please refer to the “Responsible AI Use, Data Security, and Privacy” section below for important details.

Additional features and functionality are available to departments to purchase for faculty and staff at an additional cost (refer to the “Feature Comparison” section).

...

Table of Contents

...

Anchor
responsible-use
responsible-use
Responsible Use, Data Security, and Privacy

To use generative AI responsibly, at a minimum, you should:

  1. Avoid inputting sensitive or personal data into AI systems that do not explicitly provide appropriate data security and privacy protections. Continue reading below for requirements related to PSU confidential information.

  2. Always verify the accuracy of AI-generated content.

  3. Use AI outputs as a starting point, rather than as finalized content, especially in academic or professional settings.

  4. Be aware of potential biases and take steps to mitigate them.

  5. Ensure Disclose AI use, ensure proper attribution, and avoid plagiarism.

  6. Understand instructor expectations for Gen AI use related to any coursework. If you are not sure, ask your instructor.

  7. Consider the ethical implication of Gen AI use, refer to PSU’s Guidelines for the Ethical Use of Generative Artificial Intelligence for more information.

Policies, Standards, and Best Practices

Portland State University has specific policies and guidelines for using Generative AI tools applicable to your work as a student or employee at PSU (e.g., academic integrity, ethical use, proper attribution, etc.or similar). Please refer to the Artificial Intelligence at Portland State University web page for more information.

Data Security, Privacy, and Accessibility

Unless explicitly stated by the vendor or service provider, Generative AI tools and services will typically utilize data entered into them to train the large language model or for human review. The use of Gen AI tools not supported by OIT for University operations should be reviewed by the OIT Security Team prior to use.

As long as you are logged into your pdx.edu account, Google Gemini and NotebookLM will not use data and files uploaded to train the model or for human review as long as you are logged into your pdx.edu account.

For security, privacy, and accessibility advice regarding Generative AI tools, refer to:

Anchor
gemini-feature
gemini-feature
Gemini Feature Comparison Using PSU Login

Feature

Gemini for Students

Gemini for Employees 1

Gemini Education Add-On (Employees)

Gemini Education Premium Add-On (Employees)

Access to Gemini

✔️

✔️

✔️

✔️

Suitable for use with PSU confidential data

(1)

2

✔️

✔️

✔️

Google Workspace extensions

✔️

✔️

✔️

Integration with Google Workspace, including Gmail, Drive, and

Docs 

Docs

✔️

✔️

Access to Gems, custom AI agents for any topic

, and extensions

✔️

✔️

Ability to upload non-image files and Google Drive documents 3

✔️

✔️

Access to Gemini Advanced, Google’s most capable AI models widely available today

(2)

4

✔️

✔️

Additional Google Meet features, such as automated note-taking

✔️

Additional Cost

(3)

5

None

None

$16

$192 / user /

month
(1

year

commitment required)

$24

$288 / user /

month
(1 year commitment required)

...

year

Panel
bgColor#DEEBFF
  1. Anchor
    footnote-1
    footnote-1
    The “Gemini for Employees” service includes student employees.

  2. Anchor
    footnote-2
    footnote-2
    Gemini for Employees is covered by enterprise-grade data protection as a core service governed by the Google Workspace for Education Terms of Service. NotebookLM and student use of Gemini

...

  1. are not covered by the same terms of service as Gemini for employees and

...

  1. are therefore not suitable for confidential or restricted PSU data.

  2. Anchor
    footnote-3
    footnote-3
    File and Google Drive uploads are available for all users in NotebookLM.

  3. Anchor
    footnote-4
    footnote-4
    Gemini Education Add-On gets 1,000 uses/month of Google’s most advanced AI model, while Gemini Education Premium Add-On receives unlimited access to the advanced model.

  4. Anchor
    footnote-5
    footnote-5
    Technology Coordinators can purchase Gemini Add-Ons for employees in their department through the TC Service Desk.

Anchor
studentusecase-genai
studentusecase-genai
Student Use Cases

Generative AI can be a powerful tool for students when used responsibly, providing opportunities to enhance learning while maintaining academic integrity. Students should have explicit authorization from consult with their instructor and/or syllabus before utilizing Generative AI tools for academic work, and content must be appropriately , to determine the level, if any, of allowed generative AI usage (for example, using generative AI to write an assignment vs. using it to generate a preliminary set of references for review). In all cases, content generated by your prompting of AI must be attributed as indicated in the Academic Misconduct Policy.  For more information on citing Generative AI, visit the PSU Library’s Citing Generative AI page.

The following sections outline recommended tools and best practices for students at Portland State University.

Recommended Generative AI

...

Tools for

...

Use by

...

Students

When appropriate, generative AI chatbots can assist with academic tasks, such as brainstorming ideas, summarizing information, or helping with writing. Recommended tools include:

Expand
titleGemini

...

Gemini is

...

a general purpose tool that can aid in a variety of tasks students perform when writing or analyzing. For best results, communicate with your professor about how to use Gemini to maximize your learning and to identify the appropriate uses of Gemini for your work in the class. For example, students can brainstorm ideas in class discussions and also brainstorm individually with Gemini assisting. Gemini can help writers organize scattered thoughts into an outline. It can correct grammatical mistakes, and explain the errors so you're less likely to make them again. It is excellent at summarizing ideas and editing for concision.

For more information about learning with AI, visit the Generative AI at Portland State University page.

Expand
titleNotebookLM

A versatile tool that integrates well with academic materials, NotebookLM helps students organize notes, summarize key concepts, and generate insights for assignments. It is particularly useful for managing large amounts of information and generating coherent summaries

...

. It is an excellent accessibility tool because it can transform text into other modalities, such as audio. 

Keep in mind that any time Gen AI transforms material, it can introduce errors or elisions. Gen AI  tools can support various academic activities, but students should always

...

carefully review the AI outputs to ensure quality and

...

accuracy.

Getting Started

To get started with generative AI chatbots, students can follow these basic steps:

  1. Choose an AI Tool: Select a tool based on your needs. If you’re using a tool not supported by OITPSU, ensure that the tool provides adequate data security and privacy.

  2. Start with Simple Prompts: Begin with simple questions or requests to understand how the tool works. For example, "Generate a summary of the main ideas from [topic]."

  3. Test accuracy by asking AI to summarize or transform something you know well. This will give you experience evaluating Gen AI critically.

  4. Troubleshooting & and Refinement: If a chatbot generates irrelevant or unclear content, try rephrasing your prompt or providing more context.

Anchor
staffusecase-genai
staffusecase-genai
Staff Use Cases

Generative AI can be used to enhance productivity and efficiency by helping to streamline administrative tasks for staff members. Here are some key examples of how it can be used.

Spreadsheets and data management

Generative AI driven tools can be used to help with day-to-day work with spreadsheets. These tools can provide spreadsheet templates that are targeted to specific needs with just a few prompts, like in this Sheets-based example from Google. Additionally, to reduce time spent on data entry and the manual curation of a spreadsheet, features like enhanced Smart Fill can be used.

Enhancing presentations, videos, and other multimedia content

Gemini Education and Education Premium Add-Ons can help simplify the creation of presentations and multimedia content. It can help build out a slide deck with greater ease by generating images based on prompts, suggesting new slides, summarizing content and more. Gemini can also be used in Google Drawings or Slides to remove unwanted content from images. 

Two future features that could further help enhance the process of creating videos include the ability to generate a first draft of a video, with an outline, script and media assets. Gemini can also create images based on prompts, which can then be used in Google’s Vids as well. 

...

Writing Assistance

Both of PSU’s Gemini offerings can help create first drafts of written content. Using its chat interface to conduct conversations with the AI, new ideas can be developed and created. Gemini Education and Education Premium Add-Ons can be used from On licenses allow for the use of Gemini directly inside of Google Docs for convenient access. Gemini can help with proofreading and revising already written works, adjusting the tone, turning rough notes into coherent paragraphs, and more. Follow up prompts and additional questions and refinement can help the tool further hone content.

Email and inbox management 

Generative AI tools like Gemini, with the Gemini Education or Education Premium Add-Ons, can offer assistance with your inbox, by helping with tasks like writing emails, summarizing long email threads, searching the inbox and even pulling in relevant information from Google Drive, saving time and improving organization.

...

Data Analysis

Employees can use Gemini to analyze data. This could include synthesizing survey results, cleaning and classifying data, or looking for patterns or insights in a large data set.

Making Meetings More Manageable

Integrating AI-driven tools like Gemini and Zoom's AI Companion and Gemini can significantly enhance meeting efficiency and collaboration.

Zoom's AI Companion Features:

Zoom now incorporates a number of optional Gen AI features to help improve workplace efficiency, such as smart recording, in-meeting questions, and meeting summaries.

These AI-driven features collectively make meetings more efficient and inclusive, reducing administrative overhead and fostering seamless collaboration across teams. Refer to the OAI+ Zoom Companion page for more information on how to enable and use these features.

Gemini for Google WorkspaceMeet:

The Gemini Education Premium Add-on offers AI-assisted features that streamline various tasks within Google Workspace, including AI-Powered Note-Taking and Summaries in Meet, which automatically generates concise summaries of meeting discussions, enabling participants to quickly review key points and action items (these are similar to the features that Zoom provides).

These features help save time and ensure that all team members, including those who may have missed a meeting, can stay informed without the burden of manual note-taking.

Zoom's AI Companion Features:

Zoom now incorporates a number of optional Gen AI features to help improve workplace efficiency, including:

  • Smart Recording: Automatically organizes cloud recordings into sections called smart chapters, provides key takeaways through recording highlights, and identifies action items with next steps.

  • In-Meeting Questions: Allows participants to submit and track questions in real-time during a meeting, keeping discussions focused and ensuring no query is overlooked.

  • Meeting Summary: Provides an AI-generated summary of the meeting, which can be shared with participants after the meeting ends, ensuring that everyone is informed of the key points discussed.

...

Other Use Cases

The Gemini Education and Education Premium Add-on licenses enable additional functionality that can be used for other use cases, such as:

  • Enhancing presentations, videos, and other multimedia content

  • Email and inbox management

  • Spreadsheets and data management

Anchor
facultuusecase-genai
facultuusecase-genai
Faculty Use Cases

The Office of Academic Innovation has resources and use cases for faculty that can be found at on the OAI+ Generative AI for Teaching page.

Faculty can leverage AI to enhance their work. More resources for faculty can be found on the Artificial Intelligence at Portland State University page.

...

Research and Graduate Studies provides resources and guidance for research faculty on the InnovAIte Research site.

Anchor
trainingandlearning-genai
trainingandlearning-genai
Training and Learning Opportunities

Free Instructional Programs

Expand
titleGenerative AI

...

for Educators
  • Thrive AI Microcredential
    An asynchronous, on-demand PSU microcredential facilitated by Prof. Kathi Inman Berens, Thrive AI is an introductory course focused on applying Generative AI to teaching and research use cases. This course is freely available for faculty and staff. Anyone can use/reuse microcredential materials in their own courses with attribution. The Credly badge certification can be posted on LinkedIn and listed on Tenure and Promotion materials.

    • Duration: Approximately 2 weeks (10 hours)

  • Google Skillshop: Generative AI for Educators
    A self-paced course designed to fit into a teacher’s busy schedule, helping educators understand AI concepts and tools, including generative AI. This course explores AI's role in education and its integration into the classroom.

    • Duration: Approximately 2 hours

  • Various workshops on teaching with Generative AI are offered on a revolving basis through the Office of Academic Innovation’s faculty events.

Expand
titleGemini for Google Workspace
  • Google Skillshop: Gemini Education
    Learn how to effectively use Gemini within Google Workspace to streamline workflows and enhance productivity in educational settings. Note that some of the information in this training is only applicable to users who have purchased a Gemini Education / Premium Add-on license.

Additional Resources

Expand
titleGemini
Expand
titleNotebookLM
Expand
titleOther Resources

Anchor
Appendix-GenAI
Appendix-GenAI
Appendix

  • Artificial Intelligence (AI) is a computer system taught to mimic human intelligence using machine learning techniques. 

  • Machine learning (ML) is the technique that allows machines to learn autonomously from consists of techniques enabling computers to classify data based on human-classified training data or to autonomously identify patterns in data.

  • Large language models (LLMs) are machine learning models that can understandanalyze, predict, and generate human language.

  • Generative AI (gen Gen AI) is a type of AI that focuses on creating new content – like text, images, music, audio, code, and videos – by typing in a simple prompt.