Comparing AI Tools

Overview

The University of Arkansas supports five AI options that departments may consider. There are both free and paid/licensed options. Choose the tool that matches your workflow and data needs. If you use Microsoft apps daily and need secure access to all of your M365 files, consider Microsoft 365 Copilot. If you need compliant, cross-disciplinary AI for research, instruction, and administration, consider ChatGPT Edu. For quick tasks and web searching, Copilot Chat or Google Gemini for Education are convenient options. To create a smart notebook to synthesize information, use Gemini Notebook. 

AI Options

Copilot Chat 

• No cost, included with UARK Microsoft license
• Embedded in Microsoft 365 apps (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook, Teams).
• Great for quick Q&A, brainstorming, writing help, and web research.
• Consumer-level privacy; not intended for sensitive or FERPA-protected institutional data.

Microsoft 365 Copilot

An AI assistant embedded in Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook, and Teams that leverages Microsoft Graph to accelerate everyday productivity. Uses all of your work files on Microsoft 365 when answering prompts. 

• For faculty and staff purchase
• Uses Microsoft Graph to work with your email, calendar, OneDrive, SharePoint, and Teams content (within your tenant permissions).
• Enterprise compliance posture (e.g., data remains in your M365 tenant; licensing determines covered standards).
• Use cases: drafting reports/policies, analyzing budgets/enrollment/assessment data, building presentations, summarizing and actioning Teams meetings.
• Cost: $240 per year per license

OpenAI ChatGPT Edu 

An institution-optimized AI platform for teaching, research, and administrative work with FERPA-aligned privacy and enterprise controls.

• Available for faculty and staff purchase
• Runs on advanced GPT-4o family models tailored for higher education use cases.
• FERPA-aligned; institutional data is not used to train OpenAI models.
• Enterprise controls: SSO/SCIM, role-based policies, admin dashboards.
• Use cases: lesson/curriculum planning, policy and communications drafting, research support (summarization, coding help, data analysis), grant writing, IT/HR documentation.
• Tiered pricing

Google Gemini for Education 

A generative AI assistant that works as a Chrome browser add-on, on a web app, or mobile app. Uses Google's AI models. Its models were designed for educational purposes.

• No cost, included with UARK account
• General-purpose AI chat for writing, brainstorming, summarization, and idea generation.
• Strong integration with Google Search and web-based information.
• Best for tasks and exploratory work.
• Does not provide access to Google Workspace.

Gemini Notebook

A personal AI-powered research and thinking partner using only in the information you provide.

• No cost, included with UARK account
• Research and study assistant that works only from sources you upload (documents, PDFs, links).
• Excellent for summarizing readings, synthesizing notes, and question-answering from provided materials.
• Best for coursework, literature reviews, and structured research preparation.
• Does not access institutional storage.

AI Tool Comparison