What can you do with Copilot Chat?
Copilot Chat supports you in a wide range of tasks, such as:
- Generating or structuring ideas;
- Writing or rewriting draft texts;
- Explaining complex topics.
As the tool now has access to up-to-date web information, it provides more comprehensive answers and is better suited to the day-to-day work of staff and students. It remains important, however, to use it carefully and critically.
Responsible use of generative AI
Would you like to know how to engage with generative AI safely? These 9 rules on the responsible engagement with generative AI will guide you.
Security and privacy: how is your data protected?
Within the university, Copilot Chat operates under Enterprise Data Protection (EDP). As a result, the same security and privacy rules apply as for other Microsoft services such as Outlook and Teams.
Important to know:
- Copilot Chat does not have access to your Microsoft 365 data, such as emails, calendar, OneDrive files or SharePoint documents.
- Data within EDP remains within the university environment and is not used for training AI models (source: Microsoft, 2025).
- All information is processed in encrypted form and secured in accordance with the Microsoft standards we already use.
Why does the university not offer Microsoft 365 Copilot?
The full version of Microsoft 365 Copilot requires a separate premium licence. In this regard, the university is following the advice of SURF to exercise caution with this version for the time being. That advice is based on the most recent DPIA (Data Protection Impact Assessment). Although Microsoft has implemented improvements, not all risks have yet been sufficiently mitigated. In addition, the high licence costs play a role.
Important: This assessment concerns the premium version, which the university does not offer. The available Copilot Chat version does comply with privacy and security standards and is safe to use.
How does Copilot Chat fit in with the university’s desire to break free from ‘big tech’?
Radboud University is charting a course towards digital sovereignty and aims to reduce its dependence on major tech companies. In its new i-strategy, the university has opted to take control of essential ICT facilities itself, focusing on, amongst other things, retaining control over its own data, mitigating urgent risks and gradually replacing components that currently rely heavily on American and Chinese technology. Concrete steps have already been taken, such as storing backups of Microsoft 365 data locally and introducing Fairphones as the standard for mobile phones.
Copilot Chat is not a fully sovereign alternative to ChatGPT and other AI chatbots, but it is a safer interim step until we can offer a sovereign option. AI chatbots are used extensively within the university; staff request ChatGPT licences or purchase them themselves, with the associated privacy and security risks. Copilot Chat offers a safer alternative in the short term, as it is subject to the same security and privacy guidelines as the other Microsoft services used by the university.
In the meantime, the university is exploring various options for a truly sovereign alternative and is working on a roadmap to achieve this. Preference is given to national solutions used by multiple institutions, such as UvA Chat from the UvA/HvA and EduGenAI from SURF.
