About | AI Competency Centre
About the Centre
Who We Are
The AI Competency Centre serves the entire University of Oxford as a hub of expertise for generative AI tools and their applications. Based in the Oxford e-Research Centre, our team brings together specialists with diverse backgrounds in education, research, linguistics, technology, and communications. We support staff and students who are interested in applying generative AI technology to research, teaching, learning and operations.
We believe that AI is already embedded in academic and professional work across the University. Your staff, students, and colleagues are already using these tools. Our mission is to help ensure they're doing so in an informed, responsible way that benefits their work while addressing legitimate concerns around data security, academic integrity, and more.
Our Mission
We enable informed, responsible use of AI tools across the University of Oxford.
We provide practical guidance, training, and support to help you navigate the rapidly evolving landscape of AI technologies. We focus on helping you understand what tools are available, which ones might best suit your needs, and how to use them effectively and responsibly.
What We Do
- Provide Access to AI Tools: We facilitate access to enterprise-grade AI tools across the University, including ChatGPT Edu and Microsoft 365 Copilot, with appropriate data protection agreements.
- Deliver Training: From introductory sessions to custom workshops, we help University members build confidence and skills with AI.
- Support Research: We offer OpenAI API access, guidance on methodology, and connections to research funding opportunities.
- Connect the Community: We bring together people working with AI across the University to share knowledge and build communities of practice.
- Showcase Success: We highlight innovative applications of AI in teaching, research, and administration throughout Oxford.
- Offer Consultancy: We provide tailored advice for departments, colleges, and individuals on specific AI applications.
What We Don't Do
- Create University Policy: While we inform discussions around AI governance, we don't set rules around how you can use AI. We aim to help you understand existing frameworks and signpost the relevant policies for your department or role.
- Endorse Specific Commercial Products: We provide objective information about various AI tools rather than promoting particular vendors.
- Replace Human Expertise: We help support the use of AI as a complement to, not a replacement for, human judgement and creativity.
- Serve as IT Support: While we help with some technical issues related to our supported tools, general IT support remains with local IT teams and central IT Services.