University of Sydney creates own genAI, Cogniti

The University of Sydney has created its own generative AI tool for teachers, which it expects will tackle some limitations of current standard AI tools.

Currently in the early-stage pilot, the new ‘Cogniti’ tool is expected to be more accessible, have more reliable answers and offer educators more control over how the AI is used. 

In its standalone submission to the Select Committee on Adopting Artificial Intelligence, the university called out its own generative AI teaching platform, “which puts teachers into the drivers’ seat of AI, allowing them to build ‘AI agents’ that can support student learning.”

“They do this, for example, by being Socratic tutors, providing targeted and personalised feedback, role playing as clients, coaching for good group work, etc,” the submission said.  

“We are also sharing this tool widely with over 60 universities, schools and other education providers here and overseas. 

“Our main lessons so far have been that educators and institutions want privacy, control, equity, visibility, security, and accuracy with use of generative AI in educational contexts,” the report said. 

The submission follows the federal government committee's investigation into opportunities and impacts for Australia stemming from AI technologies in Australia.

In the report, the university also said “All staff and students at the University of Sydney now have access to ‘Microsoft Copilot’, a secure AI environment.”

It said it’s provided both staff and students access to Microsoft Copilot as it aims to collaborate on the emerging technology plus become leaders in the space. 

The university recommended those wishing to access the tool use GPT-4, or Claude 3 Opus and can find the Microsoft Copilot version via Edge or Chrome browsers when logged into staff and student accounts. 

The university said it is “proactively facilitating collaboration on AI issues across our institution as well as leading public discourse on AI through our vast community of experts.” 

“Simultaneously, our researchers are advancing AI technologies and capabilities in a broad range of research fields,” the report stated. 

The university noted the establishment of multiple frameworks and teams dedicated to the new emerging technology. 

This included setting up the Generative AI Steering Committee, “a high-level committee to ensure cross-functionality and collaboration on AI across the university” and early adoption of Australia’s AI Ethics Principles. 

It’s also created a whole of ‘University of Sydney AI Strategy’ to “establish an initial comprehensive institution-wide AI Strategy and governance framework”. 

The university has also entered into a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with Microsoft Australia and New Zealand this past March, that builds “on Australia's AI capabilities and helps the University harness the power of AI for good.”