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Tech Tips Weekly

Stay connected, stay informed, and stay ahead with Tech Tips Weekly—the new weekly newsletter from the ITS Department.

Each week, Tech Tips Weekly will bring you:

  • Practical tech tips to make your digital life easier.
  • News and updates on the latest services, features, and tools from ITS.
  • Important announcements to keep faculty, staff, and students up to date on changes, improvements, and opportunities.

Whether you’re troubleshooting a device, exploring a new service, or just curious about what’s next in campus technology, Tech Tips Weekly is your go-to resource for all things ITS. Don’t miss out—sign up now!

Orange Online: August 2025 Student Newsletter

This message was originally shared to all students via email on August 14, 2025.

Orange Online at a Glance

Each month, Information Technology Services provides tech tips for the Orange community. Pressed for time? Here are this edition’s topics:

AI and the Semester Ahead

As the semester approaches, ITS is excited to help you incorporate generative AI into your day-to-day.

  • Microsoft Copilot is now powered by OpenAI’s latest GPT-5 model (the same model that powers ChatGPT). Visit https://m365.cloud.microsoft/chat to start exploring (use your University credentials when prompted to sign in).
  • Google Gemini (gemini.google.com) also is available, including access to Google’s 2.5 Pro Model featuring guided learning, a canvas editor and image generation. Use your netid@g.syr.edu credentials when logging in.
  • We look forward to announcing the availability of a new generative AI tool to support our campus community shortly after the semester begins.

As generative AI continues to evolve, ITS will help you figure out which tools work best for your specific goals. Be sure to sign up for our AI Insights newsletter for the latest updates!

Adobe Express

Adobe Express for Higher Education is now free for all students, faculty and staff. Easily create professional-quality graphics, videos and documents with built-in templates and tools including Photoshop Express, Premiere Rush and Spark Video. Perfect for projects, social media and presentations. Learn More. 

MakerSpace Hours

MakerSpace will resume academic hours on Aug. 25. The space will be Monday–Friday from noon to 8 p.m. and Saturday–Sunday from 2 to 6 p.m. Please note that no work orders are accepted within 30 minutes of closing. Staff may decline projects that would extend past closing. Hours and Info. 

OrangeNow

Stay organized and connected with OrangeNow, the official Syracuse University mobile app. Check class schedules, view dining menus, track campus shuttles, explore events, access maps and find campus resources—all in one place. Download OrangeNow today to personalize your SU experience and make the most of campus life. Download App. 

AirOrangeX

Stay connected on campus with AirOrangeX, our high-speed wireless network—no login required. Available for laptops, smartphones, gaming consoles and most wireless devices. AirOrangeX provides secure, reliable internet access. Skip personal hotspots on campus to avoid signal interference and help keep the campus network running smoothly. Get Connected. 

Digital Accessibility Tip: Free Aira Access

ITS offers free access to Aira for students, faculty, staff, families and visitors. Aira provides real-time visual interpreting for the benefit of those who are blind or have low vision—whether you’re new to campus or just finding your way around. Download Aira. 

Information Security Tip: Don’t Take the Bait

Cybercriminals target universities with scam emails posing as trusted contacts. Watch for urgent language, unknown senders and mismatched links. In a recent phishing test, 36% clicked a fake link—don’t be one of them! Review Tips. 

Interactive Campus Map

Explore our comprehensive campus map at maps.syracuse.edu, where you can sort locations by type (buidings, parking, etc.). Click “Wayfinding” and select “Show Only Wheelchair Accessible Routes” to find wheelchair-friendly paths. Maps. 

ITS Service Center

Have a tech issue or campus account question? The ITS Service Center is your go-to for support. Call 315.443.2677, email help@syr.edu, visit us in person in the Women’s Building, chat online or submit a request. Learn More. 

Helpful Resources

ITS and the campuswide information technology community are available year-round to help with your tech questions. Resources include:

Thank you for reading. Go Orange!

Tech Tips: August 2025 Faculty/Staff Newsletter

This message was originally shared to all faculty and staff via email on August 14, 2025.

At a Glance

Each month, Information Technology Services provides tech tips for the Orange community. Pressed for time? Here are this edition’s topics:

Continue Reading

AI Insights for August 21, 2025

This message was originally shared to subscribers August 21, 2025.

Welcome to another edition of AI Insights from ITS at Syracuse University!

There’s a lot to catch up on: GPT-5 landed in Microsoft 365 Copilot, ChatGPT rolled out Study Mode and Perplexity AI shocked everyone with a $34.5 billion Chrome bid. Students are embracing ChatGPT for personal essays while universities explore AI for mental health support. Corporate America presents a fascinating paradox: billions invested in AI, yet many still await real returns. Gen Z leads AI adoption despite ongoing privacy concerns, while regulatory developments and Hinton’s superintelligence warnings keep us all thinking. Read more below—and yes, there will be a quiz!

How are you incorporating AI into your work? Share your experiences with us!

News and Views

Access to The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal and The Washington Post is available to all students, faculty and staff with a valid Syracuse University NetID. Learn more.

Academia and Education

Arts and Entertainment

  • How AI is changing the music business (WBUR)
  • AI-generated models shake up the fashion industry and raise concerns (PBS)
  • Amazon’s Alexa Fund Invests in ‘Netflix of AI’ Start-Up Fable, Which Launches Showrunner: A Tool for User-Directed TV Shows (Variety)

Policy, Ethics and Governance

  • Scaling Intelligence: The Exponential Growth of AI’s Power Needs (EPRI)
  • The ‘godfather of AI’ reveals the only way humanity can survive superintelligent AI (CNN)
  • Trump AI Action Plan: Short on Action (EDUCAUSE)
  • Generative AI’s privacy problem (Axios)

Research and Science

  • How AI could speed the development of RNA vaccines and other RNA therapies (MIT)
  • Using generative AI, researchers design compounds that can kill drug-resistant bacteria (MIT)
  • A new way to test how well AI systems classify text (MIT)

Tech Industry and Market Moves

  • Perplexity Makes Longshot $34.5 Billion Offer for Chrome (Wall Street Journal)
  • Nvidia, AMD may sell high-end AI chips to China if they pay US a cut (TechCrunch)

Tools, Research and Capabilities

  • Google’s AI Pro plan for free now. Here’s how. (ZDNET)
  • Google Launches Free AI Training & Tools (Google)
  • GPT-5 Available in Microsoft 365 Copilot (Microsoft)
  • Claude AI Can Now End Conversations It Deems Harmful or Abusive (CNET)

Work and the Workforce

  • Young workers lead the way in AI learning, survey shows (HR Dive)
  • AI Is Forcing the Return of the In-Person Job Interview (Wall Street Journal)
  • Companies Are Pouring Billions Into A.I. It Has Yet to Pay Off. (New York Times)
  • C.E.O.s Want Their Companies to Adopt A.I. But Do They Get It Themselves? (New York Times)
  • 21 Ways People Are Using A.I. at Work (New York Times)

    This Issue’s Tip: Tools Available to Faculty, Staff, and Students

    ITS is excited to help you incorporate generative AI into your day-to-day. With that in mind, remember that you can log in to Microsoft Copilot and Google Gemini using your University credentials:

    • Microsoft Copilot is now powered by OpenAI’s latest GPT-5 model (the same model that powers ChatGPT). Visit m365.cloud.microsoft/chat and log in with your University email address and password to start exploring. Be sure to click “Try GPT-5” in the upper-right corner.
    • Google Gemini (gemini.google.com) also is available, including access to Google’s 2.5 Pro Model featuring guided learning, a canvas editor and image generation. In addition, you can try NotebookLM, Google’s AI-powered research and writing assistant. Use your netid@g.syr.edu credentials when logging in.

    This Issue’s Prompt: Planning an Event

    A prompt is how you ask generative AI tools to do something for you (e.g., creating, summarizing, editing or transforming). Treat it like a conversation, using clear language and enough context to get the result you have in mind.

    To get more practice, use the generative AI tool of your choice (for example, Microsoft Copilot, OpenAI ChatGPT or Anthropic Claude) to execute the following prompt:

    “I need to plan [describe event: faculty mixer/student orientation/department meeting] for early fall. The event should accommodate [number] people, have a budget of approximately $[amount], and achieve these goals: [list 2-3 objectives]. Generate a planning timeline, suggest 3 venue options on the Syracuse University campus, create a supply list, and draft an invitation email. Also anticipate potential challenges and suggest solutions.”

    Helpful Resources

    Thank you for reading. Go Orange!

    AI Insights for August 7, 2025

    This message was originally shared to subscribers August 7, 2025.

    Trump’s new AI Action Plan puts innovation and competition at the center, encouraging schools and agencies to adopt tools like ChatGPT and Claude. The plan reflects growing urgency to match China’s rapid integration of AI in education.

    At the same time, companies like Microsoft and Google are investing billions into data centers to support AI growth. Higher ed is feeling the impact too, as tools are introduced to support student advising and career readiness.

    Graduates face shifting job expectations, and younger users are interacting with AI in ways older generations are still figuring out. The semester ahead is shaping up to be a turning point.

    News and Views

    Access to The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal and The Washington Post is available to all students, faculty and staff with a valid Syracuse University NetID. Learn more.

    Academia and Education

    • AI Isn’t Just Helping Students Cheat — It’s Exposing How Broken the Education System Is, Prominent Academic Says (Business Insider)
    • We’re Producing a Generation of Students Who Will Feel They ‘Don’t Fit’ in the AI World, Economist Tyler Cowen Warns (Business Insider)
    • Google Commits $1 Billion for AI Training at US Universities (Reuters)
    • OpenAI’s Education Head Says Students Should Use ChatGPT as a Tool, Not ‘an Answer Machine’
      (Business Insider)
    • Google Would Like You to Study With Gemini Instead of Cheat With It (The Verge)
    • Majority of Students See Responsible AI Use as Key to Career Success, New Research Says (New York Post)
    • Trump Admin Seeks to Unleash AI in Schools (The Hill)
    • How College Possible’s AI Tool Softened the Blow of Federal Cuts (Inside Higher Ed)
    • Measuring the Occupational Implications of Generative AI (arXiv)
    • AI Is Wrecking an Already Fragile Job Market for College Graduates (The Wall Street Journal)
    • NSF announces $100 million investment in National Artificial Intelligence Research Institutes (NSF)

    Policy, Ethics and Governance

    • Judge Sends Hangdog Lawyer to AI School After He’s Caught Using ChatGPT to Cite Imaginary Caselaw (PC Gamer)
    • Anthropic Wants to Sell the Government Claude for $1 (Axios)
    • OpenAI’s Sam Altman Warns of AI Voice Fraud Crisis in Banking (AP News)
    • The Global AI Contest Hits the UN (PYMNTS)
    • Silicon Valley’s New Strategy: Move Slow and Build Things (The Wall Street Journal)
    • By the Numbers: An AI Development Disconnect (HR Dive)
    • The AI Boom’s Hidden Risk to the Economy (The Wall Street Journal)

    Science and Society

    • Generation AI: Why Gen Z Bets Big and Boomers Hold Back (PYMNTS)
    • Google Will Use Machine Learning to Estimate Users’ Age (ADWEEK)
    • YouTube to Roll Out New AI-Powered Technology Aimed at Identifying Teen Users (CBS News)

    Tech Industry and Market Moves

    • OpenAI Hits $12 Billion in Annualized Revenue (Reuters)
    • Google Plans to Invest $6B to Build a 1-Gigawatt Data Center in India (MSN)
    • Anthropic Surges Ahead in Enterprise AI Race (Menlo Ventures)
    • Anthropic Yanks OpenAI’s Access to Claude Model (PYMNTS)
    • Google Gets Its Swag Back (The Verge)

    Tools, Research and Capabilities

    • OpenAI Introduces Study Mode (OpenAI)
    • OpenAI Launches New Open Models, Rivaling Offerings by DeepSeek and Meta (Semafor)

      This Issue’s Tip: Prep for Fall While You Soak Up Summer 

      Still in summer mode but starting to think about fall? AI can help you ease into the semester—without giving up your vacation mindset. Use it to organize your digital life before classes ramp up: sort through your inbox, clean up your calendar, summarize course materials, or build a simple to-do list for move-in or syllabus week. Faculty can use AI to refresh last year’s assignments or draft welcome emails in seconds.

      It’s a great way to get a head start—so when the semester begins, you’re already a step ahead.

      This Issue’s Prompt: Personal Insight Builder

      A prompt is how you ask generative AI tools to do something for you (e.g., creating, summarizing, editing or transforming). Treat it like a conversation, using clear language and enough context to get the result you have in mind.

      To get more practice, use the generative AI tool of your choice (for example, Microsoft Copilot, OpenAI ChatGPT or Anthropic Claude) to execute the following prompt:

      “Help me reflect on a recent experience that challenged me in a positive way. Ask me a few questions to get started, then summarize my responses as a short personal insight I can use for a journal entry, blog post, or class discussion.”

      Helpful Resources

      Thank you for reading. Go Orange!