Information Technology Services (ITS)

Explore generative AI with ITS Thursday@3 series

Published on: September 18, 2024

The IT@UofT community is encouraged to attend ITS’ upcoming Thursday@3 webinars, which focus on the topic of generative AI from a range of perspectives. This webinar series is hosted by ITS and is open to all University of Toronto staff.

ITS staff members will automatically receive an optional Outlook invitation to attend. Members of the broader IT@UofT community will need to register to receive additional meeting information.

Upcoming webinars:

Exploring AI powered assistants on the ITS private cloud

Oct. 10, 3 – 4 p.m.
Presenter: Jose Manuel Lopez Lujan, Manager, Servers, Storage and Virtualization, Enterprise Infrastructure Solutions, Information Technology Services

In this session we will explore how artificial intelligence is transforming access to information at EIS. Jose will outline EISgpt, a suite of advanced AI-powered assistants built using Meta Llama 3 and integrated with the Danswer AI Enterprise platform. These tools are designed to enhance EIS’ access to knowledge across various workspaces, providing efficient and secure access to services like the ITS Private Cloud. Jose will also discuss our on-premises and cloud-based solutions for LLM inference and serving, and how AI is being leveraged to build chatbots for both internal and external audiences.

Bridging gaps: The role of human in the loop in generative AI

Nov. 7, 3 – 4 p.m.
Presenter: Donna Kidwell, Acting Chief Information Officer, Information Technology Services

In this session the critical role of human oversight in mitigating biases within Generative AI systems in the university context will be explored. Join our Acting CIO Donna Kidwell for a discussion of emergent strategies and real-world applications that ensure AI models are not only technically robust but also socially responsible. Learn how integrating human judgment can help bridge the gap between technological advancement and ethical considerations, fostering a more equitable AI landscape. This session is co-hosted by the IT@UofT Inclusivity Working Group.

Artificial intelligence virtual tutor initiative: Scalability and security at the intersection of teaching and innovation

Dec. 05, 3 – 4 p.m.
Presenter: Jordan Holmes, Senior Manager, Teaching, Learning & Technology, Academic, Research & Collaborative Technologies, Information Technology Services

This talk will provide an update on the University of Toronto’s AI Virtual Tutor Initiative, which aims to enhance student learning through personalized, AI-driven support. Jordan will provide an update on the project’s progress, highlighting the intricate balance between developing a cutting-edge generative AI platform and addressing critical scalability and security concerns. Attendees will gain insights into the complexities of implementing AI in higher education, including the strategies employed to ensure the platform can handle a large student population following the current limited-scale initiative. This talk offers a unique perspective on the intersection of advanced technology and pedagogical innovation in a university setting.