AI Tools @ NC State
NC State embraces the ethical and responsible use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) to elevate our mission and goals and offers students, faculty, and staff access to a range of AI tools and solutions.
AI Tools and Solutions
NC State has approved a range of AI products for use with Green or Yellow data without the need to submit an IT Purchase Compliance (ITPC) review request. Any use of Red or Purple data will still require an ITPC review request.
To learn more about the ITPC process, see About IT Purchase Compliance.
Review a comprehensive list of approved and rejected AI tools and solutions:
Data Sensitivity Classifications
When determining data classification levels, the university must factor in the following risk types: strategic, reputational, financial, operational, compliance and hazard.
- Not Sensitive or Green Data
- Not Sensitive data includes data where unauthorized disclosure or loss poses a low risk or impact to the university or its affiliates. This information may be disclosed to individuals regardless of their university affiliation. Minimal security measures are needed to control the unauthorized modification, use, or destruction of this data.
- Moderately Sensitive or Yellow Data
- Moderately sensitive data includes data where unauthorized disclosure or loss poses a moderate to low risk or impact to the university or its affiliates. Examples include date of birth, race, gender, and transcripts.
- Data that is created or collected within the university’s data environment without having been classified by the data stewards must be controlled at a minimum as moderately sensitive/yellow until final classification is assigned.
- Moderately sensitive data includes data where unauthorized disclosure or loss poses a moderate to low risk or impact to the university or its affiliates. Examples include date of birth, race, gender, and transcripts.
- Highly Sensitive or Red Data
- Highly sensitive data includes data where unauthorized disclosure or loss poses a high risk or impact to the university or its affiliates. Examples include driver’s license, mother’s maiden name, passport, and immigration number.
- Ultra-sensitive or Purple Data
- Ultra-sensitive data includes data where unauthorized disclosure or loss poses the highest risk or impact to the university or its affiliates or where specific data categories require special privileged access management. Examples include social security numbers, passwords, encryption keys, and biometrics (such as fingerprints and iris scans).
- Additional access and handling requirements are required for Ultra-sensitive data because it may be impossible to repair damage caused by unauthorized disclosure.
- Ultra-sensitive data includes data where unauthorized disclosure or loss poses the highest risk or impact to the university or its affiliates or where specific data categories require special privileged access management. Examples include social security numbers, passwords, encryption keys, and biometrics (such as fingerprints and iris scans).
Review frequently asked questions about AI use @ NC State. Don’t see your question, but need an answer now? Contact the Office of Information Technology.
Have a question to add? Fill out this form.
- What are the NC State Data Classification Levels (green, yellow, red, purple), and why do they matter when I am using AI?
- Learn more about NC State’s data security guidelines and data management framework.
- What if I want to use an AI tool that is not on the approved list?
- If the tool you want to use is not listed, submit an IT Purchase Compliance request to the Office of Information Technology.
- Can I use AI-enabled products if I don’t input university data?
- Yes, for example, you can ask free Chat GPT to give you tips on how to manage your time or ask SIRI (powered by ChatGPT) about upcoming events on your NCSU calendar. Experimenting with AI tools using non-sensitive data can help you better understand how different products can be used.
- Where can I learn more about how to use AI tools?
- There are a variety of resources for this, but LinkedIn Learning is a good place to start. Whether you want to explore AI fundamentals, applications, or ethics, you can find courses on LinkedIn Learning that challenge and inform you. Develop your skills in programming, data analysis, machine learning, computer vision, natural language processing, and more. LinkedIn Learning is free for current NC State faculty, staff and students.