Category Software News


Adobe’s Commitment to Responsible Generative AI and Educational Integration

Adobe remains steadfast in its commitment to responsibly designed Generative AI, with a strong emphasis on content authenticity and recognizing the hard work of creators. In a statement to UA’s Office of Information Technology, Adobe said: Adobe remains committed to responsibly designed Generative AI, with an emphasis on content authenticity and recognizing the hard work…


OIT to Block Built-In Browser Password Managers

To prioritize security and safeguard sensitive university and personal data, the Office of Information Technology (OIT) will be blocking built-in browser password management tools for the Office of Information Technology on UA-managed computers beginning February 18, 2025. This proactive measure is designed to avoid built-in password manager vulnerabilities and encourage using more robust password management…


Upcoming AiM System Upgrade: What You Need to Know

The Office of Information Technology (OIT) will be performing an essential upgrade to the AiM system this October. Please take note of the following details to prepare for the scheduled downtime. Upgrade Schedule: During this window, the AiM system, including AiM Mobile and all reports or interfaces that rely on AiM data, will be unavailable. It’s…


Microsoft 365 Copilot Pilot

The first tool under review was Microsoft 365 Copilot, which integrates generative AI into the Microsoft 365 suite. This AI leverages Microsoft Graph technology to tailor outputs based on each user’s data access permissions, adding an extra layer of security. All prompts are processed by a private instance of Microsoft’s large language model (LLM), providing an…


Otter.AI Pilot

OIT assessed Otter.AI, a generative AI tool for virtual meetings that offers transcription, note-taking, and summarization capabilities. Similar to Read.AI, which was previously prohibited on campus due to security concerns, Otter.AI aims to make meeting management more efficient by generating notes and action items. It even includes an “OtterPilot” feature, which can attend meetings in place of…


OIT AI Pilots: Exploring the Future of AI at the University of Alabama

As generative AI tools rapidly evolve, faculty and staff at The University of Alabama are facing new challenges and opportunities. While many AI tools are making their way into higher education, not all offer the level of data protection required to safeguard university information. To better understand the potential benefits and risks of these technologies,…


Auto-Archiving of Emails for UA Accounts

As part of our ongoing efforts to improve and maintain our email services, The University of Alabama’s Office of Information Technology will begin auto-archiving emails over two years old for all students, faculty and staff. This decision was made after a successful pilot with alumni, retirees, OIT staff, and the IT Forum. Starting October 10,…


Mobile Application Management Deploying to UA Faculty

OIT will deploy security enhancements to protect UA data on Microsoft mobile device applications starting September 16.  OIT will use Mobile Application Management (MAM) to protect UA data in University email addresses connected to Microsoft applications on mobile devices.  Security enhancements include:  These MAM security enhancements do not apply to any personal accounts in Microsoft…


myBama Upgrades – August 10

myBama will be unavailable Saturday, August 10 from 7:00 a.m. until 8:00 a.m. for minor upgrades. A myBama maintenance page will be available with links to essential services during the maintenance timeframe, and all services will be restored upon completion of the upgrades. If you have any questions or concerns, contact the IT Service Desk…