Expanded access to AI tools now available through USask

New no-cost and premium AI tools are now available through USask.

The University of Saskatchewan (USask) is expanding access to a growing portfolio of artificial intelligence (AI) tools made available through the university. Supported through AI Foundations, a Strategic Investment Fund initiative enabled through a one-time strategic investment by USask, this work helps the university explore and evaluate how AI tools can support teaching and learning, research, and administrative work.

Through this initiative, faculty and staff can explore a variety of AI tools while contributing to the university's understanding of how AI may support USask-related work. Future phases of this work will continue to expand access to AI tools and services across the university community, including additional opportunities for students.

Alongside expanded access to AI tools, AI Foundations helps build the resources, guidance, and expertise needed to explore and evaluate the responsible use of AI across the university.

Why a portfolio of AI tools?

No single AI tool is likely to meet every need. Making a range of tools available helps individuals and units determine which options best fit their needs while helping the university better understand where AI is useful, what guidance and resources may be needed, and where other approaches may be more appropriate.

Strategic funding is making it possible to provide access to a broader range of AI tools and services while the university explores which approaches best support university work. This initiative is intended to create opportunities for experimentation, learning, and evaluation across the variety of important work being conducted at USask.

Available AI tools

No-cost options

The following tools are being made available through USask at no additional cost to staff and faculty:

  • Microsoft Copilot
  • Google Gemini (Basic) and Notebook

Premium options

Additional AI tools are being made available through institutional procurement processes, including:

  • Microsoft Copilot Premium
  • Google Gemini (Pro) and Notebook
  • Anthropic Claude licences (Basic and Premium)

Information about available tools, access options, and related resources will continue to be shared through PAWS and USask’s AI website.

Important information for some Google users: If you previously created a personal Google Account using your @usask.ca email address, Google may prompt you to update that account to use a different email address. This is an account management requirement from Google related to university ownership of the @usask.ca domain and does not indicate a security issue or loss of personal data. Click here for more information.

Why start with AI tools available through USask?

USask provides access to AI services that are reviewed with privacy, security, and responsible-use considerations in mind. These services may also be covered by university agreements that provide additional protections and institutional safeguards beyond what is typically available through personal or individually purchased subscriptions.

When evaluating AI tools for university-related work, options provided by USask are often the best place to start. Depending on the tool, USask options may:

  • help protect intellectual property through institutional agreements;
  • be eligible for funding through APEF or DSAE (with approval);
  • be paired with guidance, learning resources, consultations, and professional development opportunities;
  • provide privacy, security, and contractual protections for university-related work.

Not all AI tools provide the same safeguards, agreements, or protections. Reviewing available university options before purchasing personal licences can help ensure users are working with services that have been assessed for university-related use.

Learn before you explore

The USask community is encouraged to complete available AI literacy resources and tutorials before exploring new AI tools. These resources are intended to support informed, responsible, and effective use of AI across teaching and learning, research, and administrative work.

Not sure where to begin? Visit the Start with AI basics page to learn more.

Help shape what comes next

As the university community begins to use these tools in their own work, their experiences will help develop a better understanding of which tools provide value, where challenges emerge, what support and training may be needed in the future, and which tools are most useful for different types of university-related work.

User experiences and future feedback will help inform decisions about which tools best support USask work and advance the university’s mission. They will also help the university understand emerging needs, identify opportunities for improvement, and adapt its approach as AI tools and use cases continue to evolve. Opportunities to provide feedback will be shared as this work progresses, helping the university build evidence about where AI creates mission-focused value, what support is needed, which approaches are most effective, and what future tools and services may be worth exploring.

This approach helps the university learn from real-world use across teaching and learning, research, and administrative work while informing future decisions about AI tools and services.

Learn more

For the latest information on available AI tools, AI literacy resources, support materials, and future updates: