In October, Firefox version 133 introduced the option to use an AI chatbot in the sidebar. As with other generative AI browser integration, it is against university policy to use this feature to access or interact with institutional data in your browser without being logged into your Google at IU or Microsoft 365 at IU account and using the enterprise version of these tools.
Google Chrome and Microsoft Edge are rolling out their generative AI tools, Gemini and Copilot respectively, directly into their web browsers. These features may appear as sidebars, embedded assistants, or pop-ups, offering real-time support based on your browsing activity. Depending on your settings, these tools may interact with the content you view to provide summaries, suggestions, or contextual help.
It is against university policy to access or interact with institutional data in your browser without being logged into your Google at IU or Microsoft 365 at IU account and using the enterprise version of these tools. Your IU Login credentials ensure that any information shared with these browsers, including browsing history or any academic records accessed in your browser, is handled according to IU’s privacy and compliance standards. This includes protections for sensitive academic, research, and personal information that are not included in the public versions of these AI tools.
At the time of this writing, there is a way to disable automatic integration between generative AI and your browser. This is NOT a workaround to the steps outlined above. It remains essential to use your IU credentials when accessing your Internet browser to ensure compliance and safeguard university data.
These integrations offer a unique opportunity to empower faculty, staff, and students at IU, but only if they are used securely and in compliance with university policy. To protect IU data and ensure full access to enterprise features, always verify that your browser is connected to your IU accounts before engaging with institutional data in your web browsers.
For additional guidance, you can send questions or concerns to the University Privacy Office by emailing privacy@iu.edu.
