The field of generative artificial intelligence (GenAI) presents a wide range of opportunities for innovation, education, sustainable growth, and community engagement. As more GenAI tools become available, we would like to provide you with an overview of our current efforts in this area.

Aggie AI: Secure GenAI for a Sustainable Future

This fall, Information and Educational Technology (IET) is launching several GenAI pilot programs under the umbrella of Aggie AI, UC Davis’s growing ecosystem of GenAI tools and services, designed especially for our students, faculty, and staff. 

Rocky by Aggie AI Pilot Program

Rocky, UC Davis’s first GenAI chat tool, was developed as a collaboration between the College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences and IET. Rocky is an interactive campus guide that members of the university community can use to ask questions and navigate their life at UC Davis.

• In fall 2024, Rocky is in closed beta, meaning that we are still testing and optimizing its features for a wider campus release.
• A pilot is currently underway with more than 350 student, faculty, and staff participants. The pilot began in early October and will run through the end of the calendar year.
• Pending the results of the pilot, Rocky may be available more broadly in 2025.

More GenAI Pilots: Zoom AI Companion & ChatGPT for Education

Two additional pilot programs will start in fall 2024.

• The Zoom AI Companion pilot will enable select staff members to use new AI features in Zoom, the campus videoconferencing platform, for administrative uses in their daily work. The pilot will open in November 2024 and run through the end of the spring 2025 quarter.
   
• ChatGPT for Education pilot will allow members of the campus community to purchase ChatGPT at a fraction of the retail cost. ChatGPT for Education is more robust and offers more features than its commercial versions. Our contract with OpenAI ensures that UC Davis maintains the same privacy and security protections that we require from other vendor partners. More information about ChatGPT for Education

More information about our pilot programs will be available at: https://iet.ucdavis.edu/ai-technology-use-uc-davis

IET's GenAI Strategy: Anchored in Campus Values, Powered by Vendor Partners

Our goal is to deliver secure, human-centered GenAI solutions for a sustainable future, and establish UC Davis as a leader in GenAI adoption. IET’s strategy is guided by the following principles:

• UC Davis First: Aggie AI tools and services are designed specifically for the UC Davis community by UC Davis. Our GenAI ecosystem prioritizes cross-unit collaborations and leverages the collective expertise available in our schools, colleges, and administrative units. 
   
• Mission Alignment: We advocate for AI initiatives that align with UC and UC Davis strategy, goals, and principles. We seek to enhance the student experience, drive research, and prepare graduates for an AI-enabled world, while enabling operational excellence and mobilizing resources for efficiency and effectiveness. 
   
• Ethical Use & Security: We are committed to the responsible use of AI. Through partnerships with Microsoft, OpenAI, and other vendors, the university ensures rigorous security and privacy protections via UC contracts. These safeguards help mitigate risks associated with AI technologies, maintaining privacy and upholding principles of ethical innovation. As Aggie AI tools and services continue to grow, we ensure the integrity of UC Davis data for AI use. 
   
• Scalability & Flexibility: Our GenAI strategy emphasizes a flexible AI ecosystem that adapts to evolving technologies. UC Davis is positioned to meet increasing AI demands without over-relying on campus resources as we leverage a scalable cloud infrastructure and other expertise from our vendor partners.

Additional information on IET’s GenAI strategy is available.