Protecting Privacy: Using AI Models Responsibly

February 23, 2024

In today's digital age, artificial intelligence (AI) models are widely used in various fields, including education. However, it's important to be mindful of the risks related to privacy.

A significant concern is complying with FERPA (Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act) laws, which protect students' educational records. When using AI models, there's a risk of including sensitive student information in the data. Therefore, it's crucial to ensure that data fed into AI systems follows FERPA guidelines.

Here are key considerations:

  • Data Privacy Compliance: Always follow privacy regulations like FERPA when using AI models.
  • Anonymization: Make sure to anonymize sensitive information before using it in AI models.
  • Limited Access: Restrict access to AI models and data to authorized personnel only.
  • Intellectual Property Rights: Respect copyright laws and intellectual property rights.
  • Ethical Use: Use AI models ethically and handle data with care.

Additionally, consider the following:

  • Data Quality: Verify AI outputs to avoid misleading information.
  • Model Fairness/Bias: Be sure to account for unexpected or implicit biases, implement fairness safeguards, and monitor/audit outcomes.
  • Prompt Engineering: Train in asking AI questions effectively.
  • Transparency: Document how decisions are made by AI systems.
  • Licensing Terms: Review AI providers' terms regarding data usage and privacy.
  • Third-Party Risk: Identify and mitigate risks associated with third-party AI tools.

A safe AI model for university use is Microsoft Copilot chat. University employees have access through their UA account. Remember, by following these principles, we can use AI responsibly while protecting privacy and maintaining trust within our academic community.