News & Alerts

The world of collegiate athletics thrives on passionate fan engagement, alumni connections, and philanthropic support. For the University of Pittsburgh Athletics department, reaching and nurturing these vital relationships has always been a priority. 

Pitt's CyberCamp program is engaging high school students by providing insights into cyberthreats and preparing them for potential future careers in cybersecurity. With over 1,000 participants in the past nine years, many students return for advanced sessions and some enroll at Pitt for undergraduate studies. The program offers a free educational pathway in cybersecurity, addressing the global shortage of cyber workers.

Generative AI has been marketed as a magic wand able to do your thinking for you. While it’s possible that some of us would rather automate all their thinking, I started to wonder if this was really the best way to use GenAI. From my experience using the Generative AI @ Pitt tools, it’s far more effective when you (a real person!) are in the driver’s seat doing critical and creative thinking for yourself.

Over the summer, we changed our name from Pitt Information Technology to Pitt Digital, marking a pivotal evolution in our role at the University. This change reflects the ongoing transformation that began with our CIO's arrival in 2019 and will continue as we anticipate future technological innovations. While we’re really excited about our new horizons, you might be wondering what it all really means.

Faculty and staff now have access to PittGPT, powered by CAI, the secure, custom-built platform designed specifically for the University community. One of the biggest advantages to PittGPT is that your conversations and uploaded documents are safe and secure, so you can fearlessly integrate GenAI into your official Pitt business.

Pitt Information Technology has rebranded as Pitt Digital to better reflect its role in the University's digital transformation efforts. This shift includes embracing AI, virtual realities, and establishing innovation hubs like the Pitt-AWS Cloud Innovation Center. Pitt Digital remains committed to providing seamless tech support and aligning services with departmental goals, while continuing to focus on enhancing the digital campus experience for students, faculty, and staff.

Pitt Digital debuted PittGPT, the University of Pittsburgh's proprietary AI, as a secure tool for faculty and staff. Designed to enhance work efficiency, PittGPT provides similar capabilities to popular AI models like ChatGPT but ensures data security by keeping user information within the University's environment. The initiative reflects Pitt Digital's commitment to safeguarding sensitive information while encouraging users to leverage AI's potential while being mindful of accuracy and reliability.

Pitt Digital is introducing the University’s first proprietary generative AI tool, PittGPT, powered by CAI, now available to all faculty and staff as part of our Generative AI @ Pitt offerings. With PittGPT, users can safely access powerful GenAI technology, built to comply with our high security standards for private and restricted University data. Unlike public tools, PittGPT operates within a closed system, ensuring that sensitive data is never shared externally.

Pitt Digital and Hillman Library have partnered to create a Technology Lab as part of the library's renovation. This lab includes Windows and Mac PCs, Drop-In Support, Tech Ambassador programming, and classroom space dedicated to teaching programming languages, AI, and other technology-related topics. The collaboration enhances educational opportunities by combining resources and expertise from both the library and Pitt Digital.

If you’re someone who uses generative AI regularly, you can probably spot the signs of bad GenAI usage. Too many irrelevant emojis, too much filler, and way too many buzzwords (seriously, how many times will we be forced to delve into something before it loses all meaning?). We’re all getting used to widespread AI-generated content, as well as its unwanted side effect, AI slop.

Need to print a syllabus, a research paper, or that final draft? Pitt Print makes it easy. This essential service is available to students currently registered in classes as well as Pitt faculty. A Print Queue That Works for YouWhether you work best from your laptop in a café, your PC in a Computing Lab, or even your phone, Pitt Print has an option for you. All submitted print jobs go to your secure personal queue, where they will wait for you for up to 48 hours before being automatically deleted.

 

Pitt Digital provides students with free access to essential software tools, including Microsoft Suite and Adobe Creative Cloud. These resources support academic work by offering programs like Word, Excel, and Photoshop for project creation and collaboration.

Pitt Digital has approved two integrated AI notetaking tools for University use: AI Notes in Teams Premium and Zoom AI Companion. These vendor-native applications enable users to create real-time meeting summaries that increase efficiency and reduce administrative burden. 

By embracing and learning to use AI tools, students, faculty, and staff can leverage them to generate innovative ideas, identify more efficient ways to accomplish tasks, and enhance their overall contributions across their field of study or work.

The Pitt Cloud Innovation Center, powered by Amazon Web Services (AWS), collaborated with the Pitt Diving team to improve operational efficiency and create automated highlight reels. Before this solution, coaches dedicated hours to reviewing practice footage, meticulously searching for individual dives. 

Pitt’s residential network, MyResNet, plays a vital role in supporting the digital needs of a vibrant student community. During the previous year, MyResNet was used by more than 8,500 students living in over 35 buildings across campus, with peak usage reaching as high as 23,500 active devices. This level of demand for connectivity, concentrated in area of roughly a quarter square mile, is remarkable.

Ready to dive into the exciting world of artificial intelligence (AI)? Pitt Digital is introducing Generative AI @ Pitt: a suite of user-tested, security-backed tools designed to propel the Pitt community into the AI age.

Recently, Pitt Digital's Joe Yun transitioned his role to Director of AI Enablement.

Michael Pry, a professor in the Information Technology and Cybersecurity programs at Pitt Greensburg, returned to Pitt CyberCamp for his second year as an instructor — and this time, he brought someone special along for the ride: his son.

Whether you're commuting to campus a few days a week, taking fully online classes, or working remotely as a student employee, learning to create a productive, tech-friendly home setup is essential. While it may feel relaxing to work in your pajamas from bed (we’ve all been there), your success depends on staying organized, secure, and connected — even when you’re not physically on campus.Here’s your ultimate guide to turning your off-campus space into a mini Pitt workspace that helps you stay focused, on schedule, and stress-free.

Whether you're reaching out to a professor, TA, supervisor, or potential employer, your emails make an impression. Even in an age of DMs and group chats, email remains the most professional and widely used form of communication in academic and career settings.The good news? You don’t have to be a writing major to send a solid email. You just need to be clear, polite, and a little thoughtful. Up your communication game with this guide to help you avoid common mistakes and get replies faster.

Trying to join a Zoom class or submit an assignment when your Wi-Fi won’t cooperate is the worst. Whether you're living on campus or hanging out in Hillman, a reliable connection is a must. Good news: Pitt has you covered with campus-wide Wi-Fi. Here's your guide to avoiding connection chaos and staying online all semester long.

As you dive into your classes, make new friends, and explore everything the University has to offer, there’s one more thing to add to your college to-do list: protecting your digital life. 🧠💻Whether you're living on campus or commuting, your devices are a vital part of your academic journey — and a top target for cybercriminals. But don’t panic! We’ve got your back with simple tips to keep your information (and peace of mind) secure.