Why create our own chat tool?

Since the rise of ChatGPT a few years ago, GenAI has become almost indispensable at the university. ‘It’s being used more and more. But what does that mean for us as an organisation?’ Rik sees the increasing use of GenAI as a ‘substantial change in how we’ll work, study, and conduct research in the coming years.’ And in order to manage that effectively as a university, ‘you need to experience it yourself.’ Only then, Rik and Frank argue, can the UvA guide the use of GenAI within the university and harness its potential.

GenAI that fits the UvA

One of the main reasons for developing a bespoke AI Chat is that commercial alternatives are not in line with the values of the UvA as an independent academic institution. Rik and Frank believe it is important for students, researchers and staff at the UvA to be able to use a form of GenAI that genuinely aligns with the university. One that is not subject to foreign political influence, and in which user data is not shared for commercial purposes.

Rik: ‘With commercial services, the providers set the terms, but now we have something that reflects what we want.’

Digital autonomy

The university also wants to remain independent and ‘digitally autonomous’. Frank: ‘The UvA wants to reduce its dependence on major suppliers and maintain more control over its own infrastructure. That way, you can be sure your data is safe, you can protect it, and you’re not reliant on large tech companies with different rules or values.’

With commercial services, it is often unclear what happens to personal input and private information. Frank: ‘Once you send data to a commercial model, it’s gone. It becomes the property of the company.’ That data is often used for commercial purposes: ‘You’ll sometimes notice that adverts change based on what you’ve prompted. That doesn’t happen here.’

Privacy

Use of UvA AI Chat is entirely anonymous. Rik: ‘If you delete a conversation, it’s gone. There’s no backup. Prompts are not stored or used to train models. The model speaks to “the UvA”, never to you as an individual. A UvA staff member cannot request to see a student’s chats. That data doesn’t exist once a conversation is deleted.’

Free to use

The UvA also believes that everyone should have access to the same capabilities. While commercial tools often require payment, UvA AI Chat is completely free and contains no ‘premium’ features or paywalls.

Additional features of UvA AI Chat

In addition to being a kind of ‘UvA-proof ChatGPT’, the tool also offers features that make it particularly suitable for use within the university. For instance, lecturers can create their own personas tailored to their course. Students can then interact with such a ‘course assistant’, who knows everything the lecturer has shared and can answer students’ most pressing questions – even when the lecturer isn’t available.

The aim is to further integrate UvA AI Chat into UvA systems. Rik: ‘Soon we’ll link it to UvA educational information: Canvas, timetables, regulations.’ UvA AI Chat will then be able to provide users with very specific UvA-related information. For example, if a student forgets where or when a particular lecture is taking place, they’ll be able to ask UvA AI Chat. Rik: ‘Then you’ll really be chatting with your course, so to speak.’

The boundaries: responsible use and misuse

Frank: ‘Misuse begins when you generate things that harm others.’ He also sees the tool as a practice environment: ‘Students are learning how to use AI safely. They’ll need those skills later on.’

Sustainability

We can be transparent about this: using such models is not inherently sustainable. We cannot control how or how often students use commercial models and the energy that entails. But what we can control is offering a more sustainable alternative. Frank: ‘You can choose between different models – from smaller, more energy-efficient ones to more powerful models for specialised tasks, such as coding.’

In this way, students and other users are given more choice: do you opt for a smaller, sustainable model, or a heavier model that consumes more energy? We make this consumption visible to both ourselves and the user so that we can continue to innovate in this area. In addition, the UvA partners with data centres that hold sustainability certifications we value.

Want to know what you can do with UvA AI Chat? Try it yourself! (for UvA students and staff)