Navigating Artificial Intelligence
Artificial Intelligence (AI) is transforming research, instruction, and administration across higher education. Engineering IT is committed to helping the Grainger College of Engineering community evaluate, adopt, and use AI responsibly and effectively.
Our mission, charged by Engineering Dean Bashir, is to guide faculty, researchers, and staff through the rapidly evolving AI landscape — providing expert advice, secure integration pathways, and alignment with university policies and data protection standards.
“Empowering Grainger Engineering to use AI safely, creatively, and strategically.”
AI Consulting
Who We Serve
AI Consulting is available to:
Faculty and Instructors exploring AI for teaching, grading, or content creation.
Researchers seeking advice on large language models (LLMs), data storage, or GPU resources.
Administrative and Technical Staff evaluating AI-driven workflows, productivity tools, or service automation.
If you’re unsure where your needs fit, our consultants will help you identify the best approach or connect you with the right University of Illinois provider. Contact us by email at engrit-ainavigators@illinois.edu.
Responsible Use and Data Protection
When using any AI tool or service, it is essential to protect University data. Before using a new platform, please take a few minutes to review the Privacy & Ethics Section of the Generative AI Resources page and their Data Classification Guidelines, and carefully read the privacy, security, and terms of use policies for the tool or service you’re considering.
If you have questions or need help determining whether a tool is appropriate for your use case, please reach out to us at engrit-ainavigators@illinois.edu. We’re here to assist.
Recommended AI Chat Tools
Check out available Tools sections on the Generative AI Resources page
Microsoft Copilot Chat (included at no cost)
Faculty, staff, and students have access to Microsoft Copilot Chat, which is included with our A5 license. Copilot is a powerful conversational AI chatbot suitable for most AI needs. You must sign-in to Microsoft 365 get the full Enterprise Data Protection feature.
Copilot for Microsoft 365 (paid add-on)
For those who want deeper integration—embedding AI directly into Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook, and Teams—Copilot for Microsoft 365 is available as a paid add-on through the University WebStore. (Note: you will need to log into Webstore to see Copilot for Microsoft 365 under Unit Purchases.) You must sign-in to Microsoft 365 get the full Enterprise Data Protection feature.
ChatGPT Edu (paid add-on)
ChatGPT Edu is currently available through the University WebStore.
Illinois Chat
Illinois Chat is now available for anyone on campus to create their own large language model-based chatbot, with control over functions and content. The tool was developed in a partnership between the Office of the CIO and Illinois Computes and is available here.
API and Development Resources
If you need programmatic access to large language models (LLMs) or other AI APIs, we recommend using Microsoft Azure. Users must login with NetID and password. Azure provides access to a variety of models and AI services that meet university security and compliance requirements. Contact us for guidance on getting started with Azure AI services at engrit-ainavigators@illinois.edu.
Page update November 13, 2025.