Effective immediately, Information Technology Services (ITS) announces the availability of Microsoft’s artificial intelligence (AI) companion, Copilot, integrating various generative AI technologies to offer WSU users native text-to-chat and text-to-image capabilities within the Microsoft cloud software suite.
To best leverage Copilot’s AI features, Microsoft offers the following resources to help guide WSU users:
- Learn more about how to use Copilot’s AI image generator to create custom, unique artwork and graphics.
- Learn more about how Copilot’s AI chat tool can improve teaching and learning experiences through dynamic and interactive communication.
Copilot is a great introduction for those new to AI’s instant creativity, AI learning opportunities, and productivity tools of a generative AI environment within the safety of WSU’s network authentication.
Who Has Access
Under the university’s current Microsoft licensing agreement, Microsoft Copilot is now available to all currently enrolled students and active employees with a WSU Network ID (NID).
Get Started with Copilot for Web
Copilot can be accessed on copilot.microsoft.com or bing.com/chat through Microsoft Edge and other major browsers like Chrome, Firefox, and Safari. Copilot is also available through the Copilot, Bing, Edge, Microsoft Start, and Microsoft 365 mobile apps.
Please Secure Your Copilot Experience
Before interacting with Copilot, please sign in with your WSU credentials and verify that a green shield icon is displayed beside your user profile to ensure you are using WSU’s licensed MS tool:
With WSU-authenticated sessions (check for the green shield!), Copilot:
- Does not make chat history available to users or WSU IT administrators
- Does not retain prompts and responses, with chat data being discarded after the web browser closes, the chat topic is reset, or the session times out
- Does not access data stored within WSU’s Microsoft 365 environment, including user emails, files, OneDrive data, and more
- Removes user information at the start of a chat session, only using this data to verify eligibility for Copilot access
- Prevents data from being sent to external providers
- Does not use prompts and responses as training data for the underlying large language models
Learn more about Copilot privacy and protection standards that Microsoft uses to ensure their generative AI services offer WSU users a secure virtual experience.
Copilot Best Practices
When using Copilot or any other AI technologies, it is important to consider the following best practices:
- Students are responsible for reading their syllabus and/or consulting with their instructors about appropriate AI use for their coursework
- Sign out of Copilot and close the web browser or mobile app every time you finish using the service
- Start a new chat once Copilot responds to the prompt
- Avoid sharing sensitive or confidential personal or university information with Copilot
- Verify Copilot’s responses by fact-checking with other reliable sources to ensure the information is accurate and reliable. Never trust data that has not been independently verified.
Not Currently Included
Current WSU licensing only includes Copilot via the web. Other Microsoft Copilot services with extended functionalities currently not offered:
| Microsoft Copilot | Microsoft Fabric Copilot |
| Microsoft Copilot for 365 (Microsoft 365 CoPilot) | Copilot for Microsoft 365 Admin |
| Microsoft Copilot Studio | Microsoft Security Copilot |
| Copilot for Microsoft Azure | Microsoft Viva Copilot |
| Github Copilot | Microsoft Sales Copilot |
| Windows Copilot |
University Security Data Matrix
Faculty, staff, and students are urged to follow all applicable laws, regulations, and WSU policies when entering various forms of data in university-provided resources, including Copilot.
Learn more about the different types of data that can be used with Copilot.
WSU’s Commitment to AI Responsible AI
ITS encourages the WSU community to engage with Copilot responsibly and use the tool to support academic and professional initiatives while adhering to university policies and recommended guidelines for data and system security.
To review additional Generative AI resources, please visit the Provost’s website.
Further guidance on AI and data stewardship is also available on the WSU Insider.