GenAI Tool Features | AI Competency Centre
GenAI Tool Features
Features last updated 8 October 2025
The University of Oxford is supporting various generative AI tools for use by staff and students, including ChatGPT Edu, Google Gemini, and Microsoft Copilot. These tools have differing features accessible through University accounts. This page states which features you should expect to see when you access supported tools via your SSO-linked accounts.
ChatGPT Edu
Within the University's ChatGPT Edu workspace, which all staff and students now have access to through individual SSO-linked ChatGPT Edu accounts, access to features will be subject to internal governance and decision-making based on business need.
For guidance on getting started with ChatGPT Edu, see our ChatGPT Edu Onboarding Guide.
For video overviews of some of the features listed on this page, see the Canvas Module, which includes resources created by OpenAI.
Following the rollout of ChatGPT Edu in September 2025, you can expect to have access to the following features via your SSO-linked ChatGPT Edu account:
ChatGPT models:
- GPT-5
- GPT-5 Thinking
- GPT-4o
- GPT-5-mini
Specific tools within ChatGPT Edu:
- Study mode
- Image generation
- Web search
- Canvas
- Voice mode
If you have a (non-Edu) ChatGPT account or a ChatGPT Edu account you accessed via University credentials (including department/college email or SSO login) prior to the University-wide rollout, you can find guidance on moving to ChatGPT Edu in this FAQ.
Major ChatGPT Edu features
Codex is a coding agent built into ChatGPT itself as a special tool that lives outside normal chats.
Codex is designed to function as a collaborative coding partner with these key capabilities:
- Works directly with your codebase by accessing GitHub repositories
- Operates in its own virtual environment where it can analyze and run code
- Submits changes through Pull Requests that humans can review before merging
- Handles multiple tasks simultaneously, allowing developers to work on other things while Codex completes assignments
Codex covers several different capabilities and the ones currently enabled are as below:
- Codex Cloud / Web
This is accessible at https://chatgpt.com/codex or by clicking the Codex button in the left sidebar when on https://chatgpt.com. Using Codex Cloud, users can connect to a GitHub repository, and ask in natural language to make changes. The interface is an augmented chat interface. Codex Cloud will do this, and then can optionally create pull requests in the associated GitHub repository. - Codex CLI
This is a coding agent that engineers can access through a CLI terminal. Users can download the tool from the link, and login using their ChatGPT Edu account. This still uses natural language interactions to allow users to make changes to code. Unlike the Codex Cloud, you do not have to explicitly connect to a GitHub repository. This tool has access to your local files, and can run commands directly on your computer. - Codex IDE
This is similar to Codex CLI except that this is an extension directly for an IDE program. Currently OpenAI offer Codex IDE extensions for three popular IDEs, Visual Studio Code, Cursor, and Windsurf.
Connectors let ChatGPT securely connect to third-party apps, such as Outlook and SharePoint so that you can search files, pull live data, and reference content directly in your ChatGPT chats.
In October 2025, this feature was expanded and rebranded as Company Knowledge, which provides users with the option for ChatGPT to automatically select the appropriate source across a range of previously individually selected sources (SharePoint, Outlook Email, Teams).
Despite its name, granting access to Connectors and Company Knowledge does not grant access to all company files. Individuals must still decide whether they wish to enable a connector, and once enabled, it can only access files they already have permission to view.
Available Connectors
Connectors available to staff at the University will appear in black text within Settings > Connectors. Connectors not yet available will appear greyed out.
To enable a connector, select it from the Connector menu and connect your personal Microsoft or GitHub account.
The current connectors available to staff are:
- Outlook calendar
- Outlook email
- SharePoint*
- GitHub
*Please note, there are currently reports of access issues with the SharePoint Connector. We are working to make this available to all staff as soon as possible.
How to Use Connectors
Once connected, your connectors will appear in the tool selection menu as ‘Company Knowledge’. You can ask ChatGPT to search files, fetch live data, or reference documents by asking it to use your Company Knowledge, or by manually selecting and enabling this tool in Settings.
Remember: Despite its title Company Knowledge, Connectors can only access files that you have permission to access through your connected accounts.
With a SSO-linked ChatGPT Edu account, you can:
- Create and manage custom GPTs
- Share custom GPTs to the University's workspace and externally (please refer to guidance on sharing custom GPTs)
- Access custom GPTs shared in the University's workspace (this does not apply to third-party GPTs due to data concerns)
We have created an Oxford GPT Library to showcase some of the custom GPTs created and shared within the University's workspace.
View a short video overview of Custom GPTs created by OpenAI.
Projects are smart workspaces that keep everything related to a long‑running effort in one place. You can group together chats, upload reference files, and add custom instructions so ChatGPT remembers what matters and stays on‑topic. With memory, context, and flexible tools, they’re ideal for repeated and evolving work such as writing, research, planning, and more.
Shared projects are not currently enabled in the University's workspace.
View a short video overview of Projects created by OpenAI.