The Garnet AI Foundry is USC’s dedicated resource center for artificial intelligence, designed to support
faculty and staff in integrating AI into research, teaching and university operations.
Tools Available
ChatGPT
ChatGPT is a web-based AI assistant that helps faculty and staff streamline tasks
like drafting emails, creating lesson plans, summarizing documents and generating
ideas. It supports teaching, research, and administrative work by providing quick,
intelligent assistance through natural language interaction.
Microsoft Copilot is an AI assistant built into Microsoft 365 that helps faculty and
staff work more efficiently by generating content, analyzing data and automating routine
tasks. It enhances productivity across teaching, research, and administrative workflows
using familiar tools like Word, Excel and Outlook.
ChatGPT is an AI language model designed to generate human-like text. Unlike search
engines, it doesn’t retrieve live results from the web—it generates responses based on patterns it learned
from large datasets.
Yes, it can assist with brainstorming, outlining, summarizing, or drafting—but it should not be used
to generate final submissions unless your institution permits it. Always check your academic integrity policy.
It depends on your university’s rules. Using AI to do work that is meant to reflect
your own thinking may violate academic integrity policies if not disclosed.
It can generate citations, but they are often fabricated or inaccurate. Always verify
citations independently using real academic databases (e.g., JSTOR, Google Scholar).
As of GPT-4-turbo, its training data goes up to late 2023. However, it doesn't have real-time access to new publications unless integrated with live tools.
Yes—for brainstorming, structuring, or improving clarity. But using it to write entire
assignments without permission may breach policy.
It can quiz you, explain concepts, summarize readings, and help create study guides.
It can explain many complex topics at various levels of depth, though it's not a substitute for peer-reviewed or instructor-vetted material.
Yes, it can walk through problems and help debug code, though it may occasionally
make errors—double-check the logic.
Absolutely. You can practice conversations, vocabulary, grammar, or translations.
Faculty can use it to generate quiz questions, summarize articles, draft rubrics,
or brainstorm instructional material. It should be reviewed and edited for accuracy
and fit.
Yes—it can generate educational content in many formats, with options to customize
tone and complexity.
Transparency, accuracy, and fairness are key. Disclose AI use, avoid relying on it
for final grades, and respect student privacy.
Yes, it can role-play or generate mock interviews and scenarios to support active
learning.
Yes. It's essential to guide students to use AI as a supplement, not a substitute, for critical
thinking and independent work.
You should never enter personally identifiable information (PII), HIPPA and regulated research data, grades, or unpublished research into ChatGPT. It’s not a secure data store.
Disclose AI use where required.Verify AI-generated content.Avoid inputting confidential or sensitive data. Visit the Center for Teaching Excellence for more resources.
USC understands the concerns about sustainability around artificial intelligence and
doesn’t take those lightly. The university is committed to creating a more sustainable
future across campus and has taken efforts to make campus more energy efficient. We
currently have 27 sustainable buildings on campus and recently started the Garnet
Bites program to prevent food waste.
The university’s partnership with companies like OpenAI provides a leadership opportunity
to learn, evaluate and advocate for sustainability across campus. We’re committed
to pioneering not only AI innovation across the state but also renewable energy initiatives
to build a better tomorrow.
Need Help?
The IT Service Desk is your single point of contact for IT-related questions and support.
Give us a call at 803-777-1800 or submit a ticket through the IT Service Portal.
Challenge the conventional. Create the exceptional. No Limits.