📌 Purpose
Salve Regina University provides access to three distinct AI experiences:
- Microsoft Copilot Chat (Free) - The University's preferred AI assistant for most day-to-day work.
- AI Salve (currently a closed pilot for testing purposes) - A multi-model AI platform that provides access to a broad range of commercial and open-source AI models.
- Microsoft 365 Copilot (Premium) - A limited-license offering that provides deep integration with Microsoft 365 applications and organizational data. Microsoft documents that Microsoft 365 Copilot includes capabilities beyond Copilot Chat, including business-data grounding and application integrations.
👥 Audience
- Faculty, Staff, and Students
🖥️ Applies To
🛠️ Recommendation
Start with Copilot Chat
If Copilot Chat can accomplish the task, it is generally the University's preferred AI solution because it is included in our existing Microsoft licensing and does not create additional AI platform costs for routine use.
Use AI Salve
when you need access to specialized AI models or advanced AI experimentation capabilities.
Use Microsoft 365 Copilot
when you have been assigned a premium license and need AI integrated directly into Microsoft 365 applications and University data sources.
Understanding the Differences
Microsoft Copilot Chat (Free)
Microsoft Copilot Chat is a secure, enterprise-ready AI chat experience available to eligible Microsoft 365 users. It provides AI-powered assistance, web-grounded responses, file uploads, image generation, and enterprise data protection.
Copilot Chat is ideal for:
- Drafting communications
- Brainstorming ideas
- Summarizing documents
- Researching public information
- Creating reports and outlines
- Everyday productivity tasks
Most Salve faculty and staff currently have access to this experience.
AI Salve
AI Salve is Salve Regina University's built AI platform. supporting multiple AI model types through a unified interface.
AI Salve provides access to a variety of commercial and open-source AI models, including:
- OpenAI ChatGPT
- Anthropic Claude
- SpaceXAI Grok
- Mistral
- Google Gemma
- Nvidia Nemotron
AI Salve is particularly valuable for:
- Comparing responses across multiple AI systems
- Evaluating emerging AI technologies
- Prompt engineering
- AI literacy training
- Research and experimentation
- Specialized model selection
Microsoft 365 Copilot (Premium)
Microsoft 365 Copilot builds on Copilot Chat by integrating AI directly into Microsoft 365 applications and organizational data. Microsoft states that Microsoft 365 Copilot includes business-data grounding and integrations with applications such as Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook, and Teams.
At Salve, premium licenses are currently available only to a limited number of users.
Microsoft 365 Copilot is ideal for:
- Working directly inside Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook, and Teams
- Leveraging organizational data
- Summarizing email conversations
- Assisting with meetings and collaboration workflows
- Advanced productivity scenarios
Feature Comparison
| Feature |
Copilot Chat (Free) |
AI Salve |
Microsoft 365 Copilot (Premium) |
| Available Faculty, Staff, & Students |
Yes |
Limited while in closed pilot |
Limited licenses |
| Additional Institutional Cost |
No |
Yes |
Yes |
| Secure Enterprise AI Chat |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
| File Upload & Analysis |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
| Web Search & Current Information |
Yes |
Model dependent |
Yes |
| Model Selection Available |
Limited |
Extensive |
Moderate |
| Access to Multiple Models |
Microsoft-managed models |
Extensive cross-vendor model access |
Microsoft-provided model options and experiences |
| Explicit Choice of AI Vendors |
No |
Yes |
Limited |
| Compare Models Side-by-Side |
No |
Yes |
No |
| OpenAI ChatGPT Access |
Yes, Microsoft-managed experience |
Yes |
Yes |
| Anthropic Claude Access |
No |
Yes |
Yes |
| Space XAI Grok Access |
No |
Yes |
No |
| Mistral Access |
No |
Yes |
No |
| Google Gemma Access |
No |
Yes |
No |
| Nvidia Nemotron Access |
No |
Yes |
No |
| Local/Open-Source Models |
No |
Yes |
No |
| Outlook Integration |
No |
No |
Yes |
| Teams Integration |
No |
No |
Yes |
| Word Integration |
Limited |
No |
Yes |
| Excel Integration |
Limited |
No |
Yes |
| PowerPoint Integration |
Limited |
No |
Yes |
| SharePoint/OneDrive Grounding |
No |
No |
Yes |
| Calendar Awareness |
No |
No |
Yes |
| Best for Image Generation |
Good |
Limited |
Excellent |
| Best for General Productivity |
Excellent |
Good |
Excellent |
| Best for AI Research & Experimentation |
Limited |
Excellent |
Moderate |
| Best for Microsoft 365 Workflows |
Limited |
Limited |
Excellent |
Cost Considerations
Copilot Chat (Preferred for Routine Use)
Copilot Chat is included with eligible Microsoft 365 licensing and does not generally create additional AI platform costs for routine institutional use. Microsoft identifies Copilot Chat as a secure AI chat experience available at no additional cost for eligible Microsoft 365 users.
For most common activities, users should begin with Copilot Chat:
✅ Drafting emails
✅ Creating agendas
✅ Writing reports
✅ Brainstorming ideas
✅ Summarizing documents
✅ Researching publicly available information
✅ Generating first drafts
Using Copilot Chat first helps maximize the value of the University's existing Microsoft investment.
AI Salve (Specialized Use Cases)
AI Salve provides capabilities beyond those available in standard Copilot Chat by offering access to multiple AI providers and model families. Internal project discussions reference support for numerous model types.
Because AI Salve utilizes commercial AI services, local infrastructure, or model consumption resources, its use represents a direct institutional expense.
AI Salve should generally be reserved for situations where its additional capabilities provide meaningful value.
Recommended use cases include:
✅ Comparing AI models
✅ Accessing Claude
✅ Accessing Grok
✅ Accessing Mistral
✅ Accessing Gemma
✅ Accessing Nemotron
✅ AI experimentation
✅ Model evaluation
✅ Prompt engineering
✅ Research projects involving AI
Microsoft 365 Copilot (Premium)
Microsoft 365 Copilot requires additional licensing beyond standard Copilot Chat. Microsoft describes Microsoft 365 Copilot as including the capabilities of Copilot Chat plus AI experiences integrated directly into Microsoft 365 applications and organizational data.
Premium licensing should be prioritized for users whose roles benefit from:
✅ Extensive document creation
✅ Heavy Outlook usage
✅ Complex meeting workflows
✅ PowerPoint development
✅ Data analysis in Excel
✅ Knowledge-worker productivity scenarios
Which to Choose
Step 1: Start with Copilot Chat
If your task involves:
- Writing
- Summarizing
- Brainstorming
- Basic research
- Draft creation
Start with Copilot Chat.
Step 2: Move to AI Salve if Specialized Models are Needed
Choose AI Salve when:
- You need Claude, Grok, Mistral, Gemma, Nemotron, or another specific model.
- You want to compare model outputs.
- You are teaching or researching AI.
- You are exploring emerging AI technologies.
Step 3: Use Microsoft 365 Copilot if You Have a License
Choose Microsoft 365 Copilot when:
- You need AI integrated into Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook, or Teams.
- You need assistance grounded in Microsoft 365 content and workflows.
- Your role has been assigned a premium Copilot license.