Artificial Intelligence in the Workplace

Sending a Toned Email with Microsoft Copilot

Why Copilot?

Microsoft Copilot is the only GenAI chatbot tool that can be used in classes at UBC. As staff, you have access to unlimited text and image generation that leverages current technologies. The responses generated are based on training data and current information found on the internet, a feature locked behind a paywall with ChatGPT.

Explore

  1. Read the following email that you (hypothetically) received in your inbox:
I am looking for more information regarding the UBC Faculty of Education. Do you mind telling me about the major academic units and some recent accomplishments?
  1. Using Copilot, find the information that was requested by the user. Recall that Copilot has access to the internet and can provide sources in its responses.
    • What systems do you have in place to validate the information provided about the Faculty? How can you ensure that you have these same mechanisms in place when you’re interacting with content you may be less familiar with?
    • At what point would you rather conduct a search yourself rather than rely on an AI chatbot?

Choose one of the two options below to determine how you complete this task:

Option 1: Can Copilot guess your intentions?

  1. After finding the information, craft a response to the sender in a tone of your choosing (eg. overly positive, passive aggressive, etc.)
  2. Input your crafted response in Copilot and ask it to identify the tone and overall sentiment of your message. What did it say?
    • You can create a simple prompt or you can try role-playing with Copilot.

Option 2: Comparing and Contrasting Generated Responses

  1. Ask Copilot to generate 3 responses to this email of varying tones. You can specify the tones if you’d like or leave it up to Copilot to decide.
  2. Read each of the generated email responses and compare them. Do you think that the generated responses match their tone? Do you notice any similarities in writing style?

Reflect

  • What can this tool do? What can’t it do?
  • Can you picture yourself using Copilot in a similar manner to this activity? Why or why not?

Extend

  • In what contexts would you need to disclose your use of this tool?
  • Could AI chatbots replace support staff? Why or why not?
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Generating Your Own Content with Microsoft Copilot

Why Copilot?

Microsoft Copilot is the only GenAI chatbot tool that can be used in classes at UBC. As staff, you have access to unlimited text and image generation that leverages current technologies. The responses generated are based on training data and current information found on the internet, a feature locked behind a paywall with ChatGPT.

Explore

  1. Generate a newsletter, marketing blurb or social media post about a topic you know very well/something you interact with in your job daily.
    • Recall that a good prompt is detailed and specific!
  2. Having read the first iteration, regenerate the content to be written for a specific audience (eg. children, teenagers with an interest in teaching, adults who like short form content, etc.)
    • Does the generated content align with the audience you selected? Is it overly simplified or too complicated?

Reflect

  • What can this tool do? What can’t it do?
  • When would it be useful to generate content using Copilot? When would it not be?
  • When it generated your content, it likely used online sources. How can you make sure that the bias or influence from the online sources does not negatively impact the generated content?

Extend

  • If you were to post/share content that you generated using AI assistance, when would you cite your use of it?
  • How would (if at all) this impact communications and marketing professionals?
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Unpacking Bias in AI Images with Adobe Firefly and Microsoft Copilot

Why Adobe Firefly and Microsoft Copilot?

Adobe Firefly uses generative AI to generate images. Microsoft Copilot is an AI chatbot that allows you to generate both text and images. Access for both of these tools is provided by UBC at no additional cost.

Explore

  1. Select either Firefly or Copilot to start.
  2. Enter a prompt into the generation bar that describes you – be creative!
    • Stumped? Try one of our sample prompts:
      • A UBC Faculty of Education staff member who works in [your area of expertise] writing an email.
      • A staff member from UBC delivering a presentation to a room full of other staff.
    • Experiment with the styling! Change the colour, tone, lighting or composition and add effects!
    • Did the generated image align with your expectations? If you went with one of our sample prompts, how would you compare the image to your lived experience?
    • Enter the same prompt into the other tool.
      • What similarities or differences in composition or style do you notice?
      • Did you prefer the images created by Copilot or by Firefly? Why?
      • Did you notice any common threads with regards to bias in all the generated images?

Reflect

  • What can this tool do? What can’t it do?
  • How did you feel about the image(s) generated? Do you notice any distortions? What does that say about the capabilities of AI image generation tools?

Extend

  • Can you detect any elements of bias in your generated images?
  • How might small local artists be impacted by the rise of AI technologies?
  • Content Credentials are an initiative by Adobe that adds a small symbol and data to its AI-generated images. This allows users to upload images into a Content Credentials Verifier to determine if it was generated using AI. Does this upload process deter you from checking if an image was generated using AI? How could companies make it easier to identify AI-generated content?
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Spot the Difference with Adobe Photoshop’s Generative Fill

Why Adobe Photoshop?

Adobe Photoshop is an industry tool for creating, editing and altering images. Its GenAI feature, Generative Fill, allows users to easily alter or generate elements for existing images.

EXPLORE

    1. Can you spot the difference between the two images? Hint: there are three!
    1. Can you spot the difference between the two images? Hint: there’s only one!

REFLECT

  • What can this tool do? What can’t it do?
  • What do you think about the Generative Fill feature?
  • What are the implications of being able to easily edit or alter images?

EXTEND

  • How do you think the Generative Fill feature works?
  • GenAI models are trained using content available on the internet, including websites, social media, etc. Knowing that your likeness may be used for a purpose similar to Generative Fill, how will your approach to your online presence change?
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AI & the Learning Design & Digital Innovation Unit (LDDI)

About Us

The Learning Design & Digital Innovation unit supports the design, development and deployment of innovative teaching practices in the Faculty of Education. LDDI has been collaborating and engaging in conversations with faculty and community members, organizing and facilitating workshops, and creating resources for teaching and learning. LDDI is here to support faculty and staff in navigating the evolving AI landscape at every step.

How have we used AI?

  • Generate images for our website, specifically the AI Corner
  • Generate a social media marketing plan/strategy for our In-Focus work
  • Generate AI summaries to recap our workshops and events
  • Generate captions and transcripts for our videos
  • Analyze pieces of difficult to read embed code

Why have we used AI?

  • To leverage and explore emerging technologies and bolster our understanding of them
  • To supplement knowledge and expertise in areas that are outside of the scope of our work
  • To ensure participants who attend our workshops and events have access to a useful and helpful resource in a timely manner
  • To improve accessibility and ensure everyone can participate and experience our videos
  • To simplify tedious aspects of our work and identify solutions

Get in Touch with Us!

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