Generative AI Tools
A guide to AI tools available to the TC community: what's approved, what's permitted for general use, and how to protect data security and privacy when using AI at TC.
AI tools are evolving rapidly, with new platforms emerging almost daily. This page provides guidance on popular AI tools, from chatbots to image generators to productivity assistants, and clarifies which are approved for use at Teachers College. All members of the TC community must continue to follow TC's Generative AI Guidelines.
- Faculty: Use of AI in coursework must be disclosed to students per TC's Generative AI Guidelines. Be explicit with students about which tools are permitted in your course, how AI-assisted work should be cited, and how academic integrity policies apply. AI-generated content should be reviewed and verified before it appears in course materials or student-facing communications.
- Staff: AI tools can be a genuine productivity asset for everyday tasks like drafting communications, summarizing documents, and organizing information. Use only TC-approved tools for work-related tasks, and never enter Confidential or Restricted TC data into a tool that isn't cleared for it. When in doubt about whether a tool or use case is appropriate, reach out to TCIT.
- Researchers: Before using any AI tool with research data, consult Securing Research That Utilizes AI and confirm your tool is approved for your data type. AI tool use in funded research may be subject to sponsor requirements or Human Research Protection Office (HRPO) conditions -- check with your program officer or HRPO coordinator before incorporating AI into your workflow.
- Students: AI use in coursework is governed by your instructor's policies. A tool's status on this page reflects data-handling considerations only; it does not override course-specific academic integrity guidance. If you are unsure whether AI use is permitted in a particular assignment, ask your instructor before proceeding.
The following tools are officially approved, licensed, and supported by TCIT and have been reviewed for security and accessibility. Log in using your TC credentials to ensure you are using the approved, enterprise-protected version.
🔍 How does TCIT evaluate AI tools?
Before any AI tool is approved for use with TC data, TCIT assesses it across the following criteria:
- Data Privacy and Security: How the vendor handles, stores, and retains user data; whether data is used for model training; and whether enterprise or zero-retention agreements are available.
- Compliance: Alignment with FERPA, HIPAA (where applicable), and TC's own data classification standards.
- Vendor Terms of Service: Contractual protections, data processing agreements, and liability terms.
- Accessibility: Whether the tool meets WCAG 2.1 AA standards and supports users with disabilities.
- Intended Use and Fit: Whether the tool's capabilities align with TC's academic, research, or administrative needs.
- Support and Sustainability: Vendor stability, available support channels, and ongoing patch and security update practices.
Tools that do not meet these standards are not listed. If a previously approved tool's terms or practices change materially, TCIT may remove or restrict it.
Google Meet AI Features
Included with TC's Google Workspace for Education. Automatically generates meeting transcripts, summaries, and action items directly within Google Meet, with no add-on required.
Access Google Meet →Google Gemini
Free with your TC Google account. TC's enterprise Google contract provides strong data protections, making Gemini the preferred conversational AI platform for general and research use at TC.
Access Google Gemini →Gemini Notebook
Free with your TC Google account. Upload documents, PDFs, and other sources, then use AI to analyze, summarize, and surface insights across your materials. Well-suited for research and literature review.
Access Gemini Notebook →Canva AI
Free with your TC Canva account. AI-powered design tools for generating images, presentations, and visual content, available through TC's institutional Canva license.
Access Canva →TCIT's role in AI isn't to decide which ideas are worth pursuing -- that's yours. Our job is to make sure the tools and approaches you choose are safe for TC data, compliant with our policies, and set up in a way that protects you, your students, and your research participants. Think of us as a resource, not a gatekeeper.
Most AI use at TC is straightforward: if you're using an approved tool with Public data, you don't need to contact us first. But some situations benefit from a quick conversation early, before a project is underway, when it's much easier to address any concerns. Here's a simple way to self-triage:
You're using an approved tool from this page with Public data -- drafting, brainstorming, summarizing, designing. No need to contact us first. The guidance on this page is all you need.
You're working with Internal or Confidential data, evaluating a new tool not on this page, or integrating AI into a TC platform or system. A short conversation can save significant headaches later.
Your use case involves Restricted data, a vendor contract with AI provisions, or a research project with human subjects data. These require a formal review before any AI tools are used.
- You're exploring an AI tool that isn't on this page and want to know if it's appropriate for your work
- Your department or team is considering a vendor product or platform upgrade that includes AI features
- You're building a course, program, or research workflow that relies on AI in a meaningful way
- You've received a contract or data use agreement that references AI and want a security review
- You're unsure which data tier applies to your use case
Only tools that have been reviewed may be used with TC data. Submit a request and TCIT will evaluate it for approval.
| Tool | Type | Data Allowed | Primary Use |
|---|---|---|---|
| Canva AI | Creative Media | Public | AI-assisted design for presentations, graphics, and social content. |
| ChatGPT | Conversation-Based GenAI | Public | Writing, summarization, and document analysis. |
| Claude | Conversation-Based GenAI | Public | Writing, summarization, and document analysis. |
| DALL·E | Creative Media | Public | Image generation from text prompts. |
| Descript | Transcription & Media | Public | AI-powered audio and video editing, transcription, and overdubbing. |
| Gemini Code Assist | Productivity & Workflow | Public | AI code suggestions and completions within your editor (Google's coding assistant). |
| Genio (formerly Glean) | Productivity & Workflow | Internal | AI-powered workplace search across TC's connected apps and content. |
| GitHub Copilot | Productivity & Workflow | Public | AI code suggestions as you write (GitHub/Microsoft). |
| Grammarly | Writing & Language | Public | Grammar, clarity, and tone improvement. |
| Khanmigo for Teachers | Teaching & Learning | Public | Khan Academy's AI teaching assistant for lesson planning, tutoring support, and student feedback. |
| Learnt.ai | Teaching & Learning | Public | AI-personalized learning pathways and course content generation. |
| Perplexity | Research & Information | Public | Question answering with cited sources. |
| QuillBot | Writing & Language | Public | Paraphrasing and summarizing text. |
| Rev AI | Transcription & Media | Public | AI transcription and caption generation for audio and video files. |
| Scribe | Productivity & Workflow | Public | Records workflows and creates step-by-step guides automatically. |
| StudyFetch | Teaching & Learning | Public | Generates flashcards, practice tests, and study guides from uploaded notes. |
| Trint | Transcription & Media | Public | AI transcription with searchable, editable transcripts synced to media. |
| Writefull | Writing & Language | Public | AI writing and language feedback tool designed specifically for academic writing. |
| Tool | Type | Data Allowed | Primary Use |
|---|---|---|---|
| Anam | Creative Media | Public | AI-generated digital human avatars for interactive research applications. |
| ASReview | Research & Information | Confidential | AI-assisted systematic review screening; prioritizes relevant studies from large literature pools. |
| DeepL | Writing & Language | Confidential | High-accuracy AI translation across 30+ languages; widely used for multilingual research materials. |
| ElevenLabs | Transcription & Media | Public | AI voice and audio generation for research stimuli, accessible content, and media production. |
| Sonix.AI | Transcription & Media | Confidential | Automated AI transcription with translation; supports qualitative research workflows. |
| Temi | Transcription & Media | Public | Fast, affordable AI transcription for research interviews and focus groups. |
| Whisper AI | Transcription & Media | Confidential | OpenAI's open-source speech recognition model; can be run locally for sensitive audio data. |
Information cleared for open release, such as material already available to outside audiences. Examples: publicly facing website content, published research, openly available benefit plan information.
Non-public TC information not meant for release outside the institution. Examples: drafts, aggregated operational data, and internal communications. When in doubt, treat data as the most sensitive category that could apply.
Sensitive information whose unauthorized disclosure could harm individuals or TC. Examples: de-identified human subjects data, unpublished research, faculty and staff personnel files, and donor records.
Information governed by law or regulation where unauthorized use would have severe consequences. Examples: HIPAA-covered health data, FERPA student records, Controlled Unclassified Information (CUI), and federally controlled research data. None of the tools on this page are authorized for Restricted data.
Each tool is optimized for a primary purpose. Many tools can serve multiple purposes; the tables above list the primary one for each.
Chat-interface tools for answering questions, brainstorming, drafting content, or explaining concepts across a wide range of topics.
Tools that generate or modify images, designs, or multimedia assets in response to text prompts or user input.
AI embedded in productivity platforms to organize work, summarize meetings, document processes, and streamline everyday tasks.
Tools for drafting, editing, rewriting, grammar checking, and improving clarity, tone, and style of written content.
AI for sourcing, synthesizing, and fact-checking information, often with citation support and document-based question answering.
AI designed for educational purposes: generating study materials, providing personalized tutoring, supporting lesson planning, or enabling new forms of formative feedback.
AI that converts spoken audio to text, generates captions, produces synthetic voices, or edits recorded media. Commonly used for accessibility, qualitative research, and content production.
Questions about AI tools or data security?
TCIT Service Desk · 212-678-3300 · servicedesk@tc.columbia.edu