AI Tools
To that end, VCU has licensed Microsoft Copilot, a generative artificial intelligence chatbot for all faculty, staff, and students to use for free. Navigate to go.vcu.edu/copilot and log in with your VCU email address and password.
Additionally, Adobe Express can be accessed through your Adobe Creative Cloud (CC) account. Be sure you are logged into your Adobe account and if you've already installed Adobe CC on your computer, click on the Creative Cloud icon to open the suite of tools.
Adobe Firefly is also available through the university’s Adobe Creative Cloud subscription.
Each tool is designed to support various creative and productivity needs, making them valuable resources for your work and studies.
Microsoft Copilot is an AI-powered assistant integrated into Microsoft's suite of applications, such as Word and Excel. It helps users by providing contextual suggestions, automating tasks, generating content, and enhancing productivity through intelligent insights and actions.
https://copilot.microsoft.com/
AI at VCU Example
At the beginning of each semester, you can ask Copilot to build you one singular calendar of deadlines and key dates by dropping in schedules from your syllabus. Copilot will build the list and can even generate a digital calendar to keep you on track.
Adobe Express is a versatile design tool that allows users to create social graphics, flyers, logos, and more with ease. It offers a user-friendly interface, a variety of templates, and seamless integration with other Adobe Creative Cloud apps, making it ideal for both beginners and experienced designers looking to create professional-quality content quickly.
https://www.adobe.com/express/
AI at VCU Example
Not everyone has a creative knack, and that’s OK! Let’s say you’re in charge of creating a flyer to promote a fundraiser for your student organization. Head over to Adobe Express with all of your details and generate all the elements you need to raise the big bucks for your group.
Adobe Firefly is a generative AI tool that enhances creativity by generating high-quality images, text effects, and other visual content based on user prompts. Integrated seamlessly into Adobe's suite of products like Photoshop and Illustrator, it streamlines content creation within familiar workflows.
AI at VCU Example
Kiss boring presentations goodbye! The next time you build a presentation for class, use Adobe Firefly to help generate custom graphics and images for your presentation. It’s a quick way to level up your work.
As AI continues to advance, future iterations of these tools may differ significantly from what's available today, driving even greater innovation and efficiency. You can even see differences today in how various tools approach performing similar functions. Try some of these alternative AI chatbots below to compare.
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Google Gemini is an AI tool that combines advanced language understanding and generation capabilities to assist users in various tasks, such as writing, researching, and creating content. It leverages Google's extensive data and AI expertise to deliver accurate and context-aware assistance.
ChatGPT is an AI language model by OpenAI that generates human-like text based on input. It can converse, answer questions, and assist with various tasks. Its versatility includes language translation, text summarization, and creative writing.
Claude is an advanced AI language model by Anthropic designed to assist with various natural language processing tasks such as text generation, summarization, translation, and more. It focuses on delivering accurate and contextually relevant responses while maintaining a user-friendly interaction.
Our Arabic professor asked us to use ChatGPT to teach Arabic grammar and evaluate how it performed. Spoiler alert, it didn’t do very well, but it was a good exercise to learn, like how AI can get stuff right and wrong, and how it can be a teaching tool.
Jack Glagola
Philosophy, ‘26
I’ll put it in ChatGPT, “Hey can you give me four questions and can you explain or expand upon the topic we’re talking about” It’ll give me different topics and actually give me a mini test. It’s almost like a mini tutor in your pocket for free.
Abriana Villegas
Interdisciplinary Studies, ‘27
Activities
Now that you've seen some of the exciting AI tools available, it's time to put your knowledge into practice! The following activities are designed to give you hands-on experience with AI. Whether you're new to AI or have some prior experience, these exercises will help you explore the potential of these powerful tools. Each activity offers a unique opportunity to see AI in action and understand its real-world applications. Ready to dive in and discover what AI can do? Let's get started!
Create an account in ChatGPT (or any other Chatbot) and ask prompts like those below.
Ask GPT to help you create a budget for the next 4 years while you're in school (DO NOT include any personal information).
Ask GPT to pretend to be Iron Man then ask questions that you'd want to know about Iron Man.
Ask GPT to help you write a narrative for an interactive story. Provide the starting point and different ideas to see the story evolve.
Create a prompt that explains a complex concept to you in simple terms (e.g., "Explain a solar eclipse to me as if I’m ten years old").
Examples of AI in Industry
Artificial Intelligence isn't just a buzzword -- it's revolutionizing industries across the globe. From streamlining operations to enhancing customer experiences, AI is making a significant impact in countless fields. Let's explore how AI is transforming six key industries. Hover over each box to discover specific applications and innovative companies leading the charge in AI adoption.