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Third-party tools | AI Competency Centre

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Third-party tools

The Centre does not restrict the use of other tools, but it is important to understand each platform's data handling and privacy limitations before use.

The University’s Information Security team has produced guidance on using Generative AI cloud services like ChatGPT, and can also provide advice about the steps to take before using these services. These services can be a game-changer by producing texts, software, images, videos, and music but come with potential confidentiality risks. This page details some of the popular tools you may wish to explore at your own risk.

Research and analysis tools

Elicit - AI research assistant for literature reviews

  • Privacy: Uploaded papers remain private to individual users
  • Use case: Literature research with non-sensitive academic content

Perplexity - AI search engine with source citations

  • Privacy risk: Uses search data to improve models (opt-out available)
  • Use case: General research questions using public information only

Consensus - Scientific research-focused search engine

  • Use case: Evidence-based research queries

Content creation tools

Claude (Free/Pro) - Anthropic's conversational AI

  • Privacy: Claims not to train on user data, but some staff may review content
  • Use case: Content creation with public information only

Gamma - AI presentation creator

HeyGen - AI video generation with avatars

Audio and transcription

Meeting participants must not use unapproved bots in meetings. Microsoft Teams has inbuilt transcription features that are can be switched on if you have permission to record the meetings.

Eleven Labs - AI voice synthesis

Whisper-based apps - Audio transcription tools

Image generation

Midjourney - AI image generation from text prompts