BearcatGPT: UC becomes first Ohio university to offer AI platform

Local news media highlighted BearcatGPT, the University of Cincinnati's private AI platform for students, faculty and staff. 

BearcatGPT was unveiled to faculty last year and to students in February, allowing UC users to create dozens of tools for use as study guides, tutoring and digital assistants. It's the first private AI platform developed by a university in Ohio and among the first in the nation.

WLWT5 and Spectrum News One explained how UC developed new agents such as Bearcat Study Pal, Bearcat Test-Prepper, and Bearcat Genius to help students with their studies.

“It gives the UC community access to a suite of private AI tools that does not require sharing data in the public domain,“ said Bharath Prabhakaran, UC vice president and chief digital officer.

UC is a leader in responsible and ethical AI, with years of experience and collaboration with agencies such as the U.S. Department of Defense. Faculty such as Aerospace Engineering Professor Kelly Cohen have led the nation in developing explainable, transparent AI that has helped revolutionize applications in medicine, biosensors, aviation and robotics.

“It is our responsibility to make sure we embrace the changes that are coming in the next iteration of higher education,” said Josette Riep, PhD, UC's associate vice president of integrated data, engineering & application services. “We want to be change agents and leaders in this space. And thanks to people like Dr. Cohen, I think we are.”

Riep said more than two years of development have gone into providing guardrails to ensure BearcatGPT is responsible and equitable. Queries and content are private. Feedback from UC's AI enablement community of practice allows the platform to evolve with governance oversight that continually assesses and informs.

“Community impact is key,“ Riep said. “Data in BearcatGPT does not leave UC's environment. That’s critical when you’re talking about intellectual property, contracts or other materials.”

With nearly 100 tailored applications already, UC faculty are developing new agents every month.

Read the WLWT report.

Featured image at top: News media highlighted UC's private AI platform, Bearcat GPT. Photo/Andrew Higley/UC