UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. — The Penn State IT Learning and Development team announced the soft launch of the AI Guides Program following a successful pilot last fall. The program helps faculty and staff take their first steps using artificial intelligence (AI) tools, starting with Microsoft Copilot, Penn State's approved generative AI-powered assistant available to all students, faculty and staff members, and designed to help increase productivity, streamline workflows and foster innovation.
The soft launch will run during the spring semester from Feb. 2 through May 29. An expanded program is expected this fall.
The program provides introductory-level support for Copilot and aims to help increase AI skills among faculty and staff. The sessions are designed to provide personalized guidance and answer questions about getting started with Copilot. While the program does not offer advanced technical troubleshooting, custom development or support for non-Microsoft AI tools currently, it is an excellent resource for those looking to explore AI's capabilities in their daily work.
The program offers:
- One-on-one consultations held in-person at the University park campus (Guides can come to an individual's location) or via Zoom.
- Support with accessing and navigating Microsoft Copilot, including basic setup and orientation.
- Guidance on crafting effective, meaningful prompts to get the most out of AI tools.
- Opportunities to explore AI content generation capabilities and understand when and how to use them.
- Brainstorming session to identify ways AI can enhance teaching, learning and workplace tasks.
- Strategies for using Microsoft Copilot to reduce busywork and increase efficiency.
- Introduction to creating simple AI assistants designed for specific tasks and processes.
- Best practices for using data in Microsoft Copilot safely and responsibly.
- Techniques for validating AI-generated content to ensure accuracy and reliability.
Who can participate?
Any Penn State faculty or staff member is welcome to request a consultation. Scheduling during this phase will be done on a first-come, first-served basis. Additional staff resources and time slots will be added in the fall based on the program's popularity.
How to request a consultation
To schedule a session:
- Visit the AI Guides Program website and click on the "Request a Consultation" button.
- Complete the AI Guides Consultation Request form.
- Select your preferred format (face-to-face or online via Zoom) and provide details about your needs.
Looking ahead
The AI Guides Program is a first step toward broader AI literacy at Penn State and will expand to include additional AI tools in the future. Faculty and staff participation and feedback will help shape the program as it grows.