Microsoft AI tool available for employees
ITS has approved a version of Bing Chat, an AI-powered assistant, for use by University faculty and staff.
As of Nov. 8, Carolina faculty and staff have access to a new enterprise AI tool — Bing Chat Enterprise.
Microsoft Bing Chat Enterprise is a version of Bing Chat, an AI-powered assistant, approved for use by University employees. Bing Chat Enterprise is a more secure alternative to consumer-oriented generative AI services like ChatGPT, Google Bard or the nonenterprise version of Bing Chat.
Employees can use Bing Chat Enterprise to generate content, analyze or compare data, summarize documents, learn new skills, write code and much more. Instructors can use Bing Chat Enterprise to personalize learning, plan a lesson, brainstorm, tutor, communicate, analyze and improve efficiency.
Bing Chat also offers distinct advantages over other generative AI chat services, including built-in text-to-image generation and reference links and footnotes to make it easier to verify information.
At launch, Bing Chat Enterprise will be available only to University faculty and staff. Microsoft enabled the tool for existing faculty and staff licenses at no additional cost to the University but did not include it in student licenses. Students who have multiple affiliations because they also work for the University may have access to Bing Chat Enterprise, depending on how their account is licensed. ITS is working with Microsoft to understand the potential for student licensing and access and expects to have more information in coming months.
Getting started
UNC-Chapel Hill faculty and staff access Bing Chat Enterprise by signing into their web browser with their University account, then visiting Bing Chat, or by visiting Bing Chat and clicking “sign in” in the top right. You must sign in with your University account to access the enterprise version. Ensure you are signing into your University account by using onyen@ad.unc.edu as your email address, as when logging into Heelmail or other online Microsoft 365 products.
Currently, Bing Chat Enterprise supports Microsoft Edge (desktop and mobile app) and Chrome (desktop). Microsoft Edge is the preferred browser.
Bing Chat Enterprise does not support “strict” SafeSearch settings. Change your settings to “moderate” or “off” before accessing Bing Chat Enterprise.
Whenever you’re using a chatbot or generative AI tool, you still have a responsibility to exercise due care over any data you submit to a third party. As you do with all information and tools, comply with federal and state privacy regulations and safe computing best practices.
In addition, follow University guidelines about using AI tools appropriately and ethnically and safeguard the University’s and your own information. Early in 2023, the Provost tasked an AI committee and subcommittees with creating resources for University staff. Please use those resources for best practices and campus-specific guidance.
Visit Microsoft support for tips, tricks and use cases for getting the most out of Bing Chat Enterprise.
More secure
Safeguarding information is the key benefit to using Bing Chat Enterprise. When you use the enterprise version of Bing Chat, Microsoft does not store or view your chats. Microsoft encrypts your queries and does not use UNC-Chapel Hill data or queries to train any of its models.
Microsoft uses your identity only to determine if you are eligible to access the tool. After you authenticate and access Bing Chat Enterprise, your user identity information is removed. Bing Chat Enterprise cannot access your Microsoft 365 files.
By comparison, tools like ChatGPT store your searches and use your queries and chat history to train future models.
Basic data protection guidance
AI tools do not change the rules about safeguarding data at the University. Your obligations under grants, contracts, data use agreements or other external obligations remain the same. Additionally:
- Do not use AI tools for protected health information or data subject to Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act or Tier 3 data.
- While Bing Enterprise has the appropriate safeguards for Tier 1 and Tier 2 data, do check to make sure any external obligation, data management plans or system security plans allow for the use of this tool. Those obligations would override any “safe for Tier 1 or Tier 2” designation.
- When in doubt whether something is appropriate, ask. Err on the side of caution until you are certain.
Technical support
For more information specific to UNC-Chapel Hill, visit Bing Chat Enterprise. If you have questions, contact the ITS Service Desk using the Help Portal or by calling 919-962-HELP (4357).
