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❗ This information is relevant only to our institutionally licensed, SSO protected AI/LLM services.
Personal accounts might not have the same enterprise protections.
Dartmouth provides several approved Generative AI (GenAI) tools for faculty, staff, and students. Not all tools are appropriate for every type of data. Use this article to determine which AI tool is suitable based on your data's classification level. Always log in with your official Dartmouth credentials (NetID/Dartmouth account) to ensure data protections apply. Personal or free consumer accounts are not covered.
Data Classification Levels
Dartmouth's data classification levels align with the Information Security Policy (DISC levels).
| Classification |
DISC Level |
Description |
| Public |
Level 0 |
Data intended for public disclosure. |
| Low |
Level 1 |
General business data for use within Dartmouth; not intended for public disclosure. Accessible via authenticated IT access or authorized physical access. |
| Medium |
Level 2 |
Data restricted to individuals with a documented "need to know" as defined by the data owner. |
| High |
Level 3 |
Strictly confidential data requiring the highest level of sensitivity. For regulated data, incl. FERPA, PII, HIPAA, CUI, GLBA, PCI, and similar categories, reach out to Information Security prior to use. |
Approved AI Tools by Data Classification
Use the matrix below to identify which tools are approved for your data level. A checkmark (✓) indicates the tool is approved for that level. A dash (–) means the tool is not approved. A star (★) requires Information Security risk review. Always review the notes column for important conditions.
| Tool |
Vendor |
Public |
Low |
Medium |
High |
Notes |
| Anthropic Claude |
Anthropic |
✓ |
✓ |
✓ |
★ |
Conversation data not used for training of future models; under review for high-risk data. |
| Microsoft 365 Copilot Chat |
Microsoft |
✓ |
✓ |
✓ |
★ |
Conversation data not used for training of future models; approved for high-risk data. |
| Microsoft 365 Copilot Studio |
Microsoft |
✓ |
✓ |
✓ |
★ |
Integrated into Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook, and Teams. |
| Power BI Copilot |
Microsoft |
✓ |
✓ |
✓ |
★ |
Built into Power BI Service. |
| Gemini with Data Protection (Google Workspace) |
Google |
✓ |
✓ |
✓ |
– |
Not approved for high-risk data. |
| Dartmouth Chat (Local Models) |
Dartmouth |
✓ |
✓ |
✓ |
★ |
Local models suitable for high-risk data. Use the "local" filter in the interface. |
| Dartmouth Chat (Cloud Models) |
Dartmouth |
✓ |
✓ |
✓ |
– |
Commercial cloud models not approved for high-risk data. Use the "cloud" filter in the interface. |
| Zoom AI Companion |
Zoom |
✓ |
✓ |
✓ |
★ |
Provides transcription, summaries, and action items within Zoom. |
| OpenAI ChatGPT Team |
OpenAI |
✓ |
✓ |
✓ |
– |
Not approved for high-risk data. |
| Adobe Firefly |
Adobe |
✓ |
✓ |
– |
– |
Image creation and editing tool; trained on Adobe Stock and public domain content. |
❗
Any platform above may expose your data if the `web search` feature is toggled.
Do not toggle the `web search` feature if working with regulated or sensitive data.
Tool Details and Licensing
Anthropic
- Claude Enterprise Chat - under review for High-risk data; no additional cost. Don't enter data you wouldn't put in an email to an external party. Avoid student PII, medical information, or confidential research data. The "Incognito" mode in Claude doesn't save conversations if you want an extra layer of privacy
- Claude Chat Connectors - under review for security on a per-connector basis
- Claude Cowork (beta), Claude Enterprise API , Claude Desktop Extension - under security review
- Claude Code - not part of institutional licensing
Microsoft
- Microsoft 365 Copilot Chat - Approved for High-risk data; no additional cost.
- Microsoft 365 Copilot Studio - Approved for High-risk data; licensed per user, available through the Dartmouth Computer Store.
- Power BI Copilot - Approved for High-risk data; licensed per user via ITC request.
Google
- Gemini with Data Protection - Approved up to Medium-risk data; no additional cost.
Dartmouth
- Dartmouth Chat - Approved from Low to High depending on the selected back-end. Commercial models have a daily token allowance; local models are unlimited.
- Dartmouth Chat (Beta) - Experimental environment; same data classification range as standard Dartmouth Chat.
Zoom
- Zoom AI Companion - Approved for High-risk data; no additional cost.
OpenAI
- OpenAI ChatGPT Team - Approved up to Medium-risk data; licensed per user, available through the Dartmouth Computer Store.
Adobe
- Adobe Firefly - Approved up to Low-risk data; included with Adobe Creative Cloud for licensed users.
Using AI for Programming and Coding
Many popular development environments, such as Visual Studio Code, offer built-in AI coding assistance (e.g., GitHub Copilot with a free tier). Be aware that Dartmouth does not have an enterprise agreement with these services, and using them may expose Dartmouth-owned intellectual property (IP) or credentials (such as API keys or database passwords) to third parties.
For coding assistance involving Dartmouth data or systems, consider using Dartmouth Chat and selecting an appropriate model based on your data classification level. For more information on connecting AI clients, visit the Research Computing AI resources page.
Important Reminders
- You must log in with your Dartmouth credentials (NetID) to be covered by institutional data protections. Personal or free consumer accounts are not covered.
- High-risk data handling must follow Dartmouth's Information Security Policy and any system-specific approvals.
- When using Dartmouth Chat, use the interface filters ("local" or "cloud") to ensure you are using an appropriate model for your data classification.
- Always follow the data owner's guidance in addition to institutional policy.
See Related Articles to the right for more information.