News & Alerts

Artificial intelligence (AI) is revolutionizing the way students and educators approach learning. From helping with research to improving writing, AI can be an invaluable tool when used responsibly. Here are some practical ways you can incorporate AI, while steering clear of ethical and practical pitfalls:

In light of the uncertainty looming over the company’s future, you should do one thing to protect your privacy today: delete your 23andMe account.

As temperatures rise, you may be gearing up for summer travel. Whether you’ll be taking a semester abroad, doing on-site research, or just enjoying some well-earned rest and relaxation, keeping your devices safe while traveling is essential for a stress-free journey.

A summer job or internship position is the perfect way to gain real-world experience. If you are graduating, your first post-graduation job will be the first step in your professional journey. Either way, now is the time to look for those great opportunities when the semester ends.

Allegheny County Executive Sara Innamorato, an alumna of Pitt’s College of Business Administration, will be on the Oakland campus March 19 for an exclusive conversation about how tech influenced her professional journey and how she's using her tech experience in her current position. The event, sponsored by Pitt IT, is from 10 to 11:30 a.m. in the William Pitt Union, Kurtzman Room.

While you may think that downloading apps from official app stores is entirely secure, you can still catch malware that will steal your private data.

Microsoft 365 is packed with features that can make your life easier — if you know where to find them! Whether you’re writing a paper in Word, crunching numbers in Excel, or organizing your inbox in Outlook, these tech tips will help you work smarter, not harder. Let’s dive in!

Brandon Sia, a mechanical engineering student at the University of Pittsburgh, has found the Student Computing Lab to be an invaluable resource in his academic journey. For Brandon, the Student Computing Labs are not only spaces filled with computers. The labs serve as hubs of essential resources that support his academic pursuits.

Hi there, it’s resident Tech Ambassador blogger Brandon here! After a restful winter break before my last semester here at Pitt, I’m back and writing to you all about my experience as a Tech Ambassador and sharing some tips to “spring” into the new Year at Pitt (lol).

As a student at Pitt, I rely on technology daily to stay on top of classes, connect with friends, and finish my work. Some days, I’m seriously grateful for how easy it makes my life. Other days? Not so much. As Valentine’s Day approaches, here’s what I love about tech — and what sometimes makes me want to toss my laptop out a window.

The Computing and Information Committee discussed ongoing initiatives to address the University's technology needs and anticipate future market changes. Led by CIO Mark Henderson, the initiative involves public feedback and planning to align with emerging technologies and trends over the next five to 10 years. The discussions included updates on AI standards for University data use and partnerships with Dell and UPMC to advance health sciences and computational pathology through AI-driven projects.

A real voice — that’s what callers to Pitt want to hear most, says Maureen Ryczaj, the University’s lone full-time operator. Ryczaj and her team of two part-time staffers and several student employees answer up to 250 calls a week from all over the world — but mostly from Pitt students and their parents.

This new Operating Standard describes the types of Generative AI models and software that can be used with various classifications of University data, as well as user responsibilities for the use of Gen AI.

Let’s face it: social media is all over the place. TikTok is banned. TikTok is back. Whatever app you use, your feed is probably full of hot takes, trending stories, and viral memes. But not everything you scroll past is legit — especially with recent changes.

It’s that time of year when employers and financial institutions start sending you W-2s, 1099s, and other tax forms for 2024. Unfortunately, there are bad guys out there who are hoping you get a refund … so they can steal it. During this Tax Identity Theft Awareness Week, make sure that your refund gets deposited into your bank account!

DeepSeek, the Chinese AI startup that has captured much of the artificial intelligence (AI) buzz in recent days, said it's restricting registrations on the service, citing malicious attacks.

Given the often-daunting nature of digital communications, particularly within academic circles, a newly unveiled, Pitt-centric digital tool that uses research keywords to help faculty find cross-disciplinary collaborators and their projects hits the utilitarian sweet spot for researchers like Rob Rutenbar.

The National Institutes of Health (NIH) has introduced strengthened security requirements for accessing and downloading data from designated NIH repositories.

In our daily digital lives, web browsers keep us connected and enable us to do our best work. Browsers do a lot of heavy lifting to keep us current and safe while online. Out of date browsers pose cybersecurity vulnerabilities and decrease web functionality. That’s why regularly updating your web browser is crucial.

Key takeaways from The Chronicle of Higher Education’s virtual forum on Artificial Intelligence’s Impact on College Cybersecurity.

It’s Home Office Safety & Security Week! If you’re working from a home office or a public location some or all of the time, there are special cybersecurity considerations to keep in mind.

From Post-It Notes and hand-written lists to advanced project management tools, people use a lot of methods to organize their work and complete projects without tasks falling through the cracks. Microsoft has many programs that can help. It’s not a one-size-fits-all choice.

Pitt Digital successfully transitioned to a new security system, Microsoft Sentinel, within 68 days. This change was facilitated by Cribl tools, which helped organize and manage security data efficiently. This transition not only streamlined their data processes but also resulted in significant cost savings. The university's IT team benefited from Cribl's user-friendly interface, making it easier for them to manage over 1,000 servers and respond to security threats more effectively.

Whether or not you like New Year’s resolutions, setting goals and pursuing self-improvement is an important part of personal growth. Here in Pitt IT, we know that a little bit of tech can make a big difference in helping to achieve your ambitions.

Winter break is the perfect time to unwind and recharge, but it can also be a great opportunity to check off some tech-related tasks. Whether you're looking to learn something new, organize your digital life, or just relax, we’ve got some tips to make your winter break both productive and enjoyable.