Notre Dame grants students access to Google AI tools - The Observer
As students gear up for the approaching finals, which are less than two weeks away, they are now equipped with premium AI tools directly accessible through their Notre Dame Google accounts. The Office of Information Technology recently announced student access to Google AI tools, such as Gemini and NotebookLM, through a campus-wide email sent on March 18.
Benefits of Google AI Tools
Gemini, Google’s large language model (LLM), is a generative AI resource, similar to ChatGPT, while NotebookLM interacts directly with users’ documents, providing summaries and assisting in research work. The Vice President of Information Technology and Chief Information Officer, Jane Livingston, highlighted the advantages of these tools in comparison to others available in the market. She emphasized that when accessed through Notre Dame accounts, both services ensure data protection similar to Google Drive.
Focus on Privacy and Data Protection
The Office of Information Technology focused extensively on privacy concerns when considering the adoption of AI tools across the university. Google agreed to extend its data protection policy to AI usage without any additional licensing fee, ensuring that student data is not sold, shared, or utilized for training future AI models. Brandon Rich, the director of the AI enablement team, underlined the importance of responsible data usage and the careful consideration given to maintaining the confidentiality of Notre Dame data.
AI Enablement Team and Collaboration with Google
The Notre Dame AI enablement team, established following a report by the generative AI task force, actively collaborates with various campus groups to promote AI literacy and responsible innovation. Since the University transitioned to become a Google campus in 2013, students and faculty already have access to Google apps, with the AI tools seamlessly integrated into these applications.
Ensuring Academic Integrity and Clear Policies
The rollout of AI tools like Gemini prompted a substantial communication effort by the Office of Information Technology and other university offices to clarify AI policies and educate students on safe and responsible AI usage. Ardea Russo, the director of the Office of Academic Standards, emphasized the importance of providing clear guidelines to professors regarding AI use in coursework.
