There’s a new GenAI on the block in the form of Microsoft’s Bing Chat Copilot. But what is Copilot? And how can you use it in a secure way? Here’s what to look for to make sure your data is protected when using Copilot.
Microsoft Bing Chat Copilot
Microsoft Bing Chat Copilot is a new GenAI offering built into Microsoft’s Bing search engine. Like other GenAI platforms, Copilot can generate text or image content based on prompts the user enters. It’s free and easy enough to access, but there’s a key difference that may influence what kind of data you choose to share with Copilot. If you want to make sure your data is secure, you should make sure to log in and use the Protected version.
Using the protected version of Copilot
The UTS Microsoft Enterprise License for staff and students includes a Protected version of Bing Chat Copilot. Under this license, Microsoft states that “Your personal and company data are protected in this chat”. This means that Microsoft will not use your data to train Large Language Models (LLMs).
Using the protected version, also known as the enterprise version, allows for more protection of your data. How you access the protected version depends on which browser you’re using.
You’ll know that you’re using the protected version by looking for the green Protect icon in the top right corner of the screen. If you cannot see the Protected icon, you are not using the UTS Enterprise version and any data you enter may be collected by Microsoft. The icon looks slightly different depending on the platform, but is easily identifiable – just look for the word ‘Protected’ or ‘Your personal and company data are protected in this chat’.
Stay tuned for more details
Copilot is still fairly new, and we’ll have more details soon to guide you in accessing and using it, as well as information to pass on to your students about how to use it securely and within the guidelines for academic integrity. Watch this space!