GenAI

What is Copilot?

Copilot is an advanced conversational AI tool developed by Microsoft in partnership with OpenAI. It is powered by large language models (LLMs), designed to assist with a wide range of academic and productivity tasks. It is intended to work as a "co-pilot", enhancing human effort rather than replacing it.

At SCU we prefer that all students use Copilot where possible to ensure the security of student data and to not allow the use of the data to train the LLM.

Using Copilot through SCU’s recommended platforms ensures that your academic work remains private and secure. This protects your intellectual property and complies with university policies on data privacy and ethical AI use. 
 

Logging in to MS Copilot

Login to Copilot

How to use it?

Access Copilot using your SCU login. Start a conversation by typing your question or task into the chat interface. Be specific with your queries and ask follow-up questions to refine the responses. Prompt engineering is an essential skill when using GenAI tools. Always critically evaluate the information generated – the tool is not a replacement for academic learning or judgement.   

Limitations

Copilot is not an exception from the limitations of other GenAI tools. Please be aware of the following:

• The tool is not a source of truth, and it may occasionally use outdated or incorrect information - always verify facts
• Bias may appear in the generated information 
• Copilot does not have context awareness or critical thinking, and it may provide generic or simplified responses
• The tool may hallucinate information, including references and citations
   

Watch the video below to explore the importance of critical thinking when engaging with AI, emphasising the need to analyse and evaluate the information provided to make informed decisions.

Use for student assessments (where permitted)

• Academic reading and thinking: break down complex texts into smaller summaries, highlight key points, clarify difficult terminology or theories, test your knowledge
• Planning and drafting: outline essay or report structure
• Scheduling, planning, and supporting learning: creating study or revision schedules, breaking down tasks into manageable steps, creating to-do lists, suggesting study techniques tailored to you
• Ideation: brainstorm essay topics or research angles, recommend relevant topics, adapt ideas for different audiences or formats

Please make sure to consult your unit assessor or check your assessment instructions to confirm if you are permitted to use a GenAI tool like Primo Research Assistant for your assessments.

For information on using GenAI ethically at SCU see Using generative AI tools.