Resources
Annotated links to AI tools, policies, and further reading
NoteLiving Document
This page is updated each semester. Tools, pricing, and policies change frequently. If you find a broken link or outdated information, open an issue on GitHub.
Last reviewed: March 2026
AI Desktop Apps
Desktop apps can read your files directly — no copy-paste needed. This is the workflow described in the F-track modules.
| Tool | What It Is | Cost | When to Use |
|---|---|---|---|
| Claude (Anthropic) | Desktop app + web. Strong at long documents, writing, and careful reasoning. | Free tier available; Pro plan ~$20/mo | Course prep, feedback drafting, document analysis |
| ChatGPT (OpenAI) | Desktop app + web. Broad capabilities, large user base. | Free tier (GPT-4o); Plus ~$20/mo | General-purpose tasks, brainstorming, quick Q&A |
| Codex (OpenAI) | Code-focused agent; can work with project folders. | Requires ChatGPT Pro ($200/mo) or API access | Building tools, simulations, course websites |
| GitHub Copilot | AI code assistant integrated into editors. | Free for educators (apply via GitHub Education) | Writing and debugging code in Stata, R, Python |
Web-Based AI Tools
No installation needed. Good for quick tasks and when you don’t need file access.
| Tool | What It Is | When to Use |
|---|---|---|
| UVM Copilot | Microsoft Copilot with enterprise protections. GPT-4 access. Sign in with UVM credentials. | FERPA-appropriate tasks with student data; your institutionally protected option |
| Claude.ai | Browser version of Claude. | Quick tasks where you don’t need the desktop app |
| ChatGPT (web) | Browser version of ChatGPT. | Quick tasks, brainstorming |
| Gemini (Google) | Google’s AI assistant. | Google Workspace integration, general tasks |
| Perplexity | AI-powered search with citations. | Quick factual lookups, when you want sourced answers |
Academic AI Tools
Specialized tools for research and literature work. See C1: Literature Review & Synthesis for detailed guidance.
| Tool | What It Is | When to Use |
|---|---|---|
| Elicit | AI research assistant. Searches papers, extracts findings, builds literature tables. | Systematic lit review, finding relevant papers quickly |
| Consensus | AI search engine for academic papers. Answers questions with evidence from peer-reviewed sources. | Quick evidence checks, “what does the literature say about X” |
| Semantic Scholar | Academic search engine with AI-powered recommendations. | Finding papers, citation tracking, related work |
| Connected Papers | Visual graph of related papers based on citation networks. | Mapping a literature, finding seminal and recent work in a subfield |
| Research Rabbit | Similar to Connected Papers with collaborative features. | Literature mapping, discovery |
AI Policy Resources
For faculty developing course AI policies. See F4: Make Your Course AI-Ready.
| Resource | What It Is |
|---|---|
| UVM AI Resources (uvm.edu/ai) | Institutional guidance, Copilot access, AI Academy events |
| UVM Copilot Cafe | Drop-in sessions: 1st Wed 12pm, 3rd Thu 9:30am. Informal help with AI tools. |
| AEA Guidelines | American Economic Association guidance on AI use in research and publishing |
| Lance Eaton’s Syllabi Policies Collection | Crowdsourced database of AI syllabus language from across disciplines |
| UNESCO AI and Education | International framework for AI in education policy |
Privacy and Data
Before uploading student work or sensitive data, know what protections each tool offers. See the FERPA section in F3.
| Protection Level | What It Means | Examples |
|---|---|---|
| Enterprise/education agreement | Data not used for training. Institutional access controls. Contractual data handling terms. | UVM Copilot, institutionally provisioned tools |
| Paid consumer plan | Varies by provider. Some paid plans offer opt-out from training. Read the terms. | Claude Pro, ChatGPT Plus (check current policies) |
| Free consumer plan | Fewest guarantees. Data may be used for model improvement unless you opt out. Check settings. | Free tiers of most tools |
The practical rule: Match the sensitivity of the data to the protection level of the tool. Student work and identifying information require enterprise-level protections or de-identification.
Further Reading
AI in Higher Education
- Mollick, E. (2024). Co-Intelligence: Living and Working with AI. Accessible overview for non-technical readers. Good on practical use cases and mental models.
- Bowen & Watson (2024). Teaching with AI. Practical guide for instructors. Covers assessment redesign, policy development, and classroom integration.
- UNESCO (2023). Guidance for Generative AI in Education and Research. International policy framework. Useful for institutional context.
AI Literacy and Critical Thinking
- Crawford, K. (2021). Atlas of AI. Critical perspective on AI’s social and environmental costs. Good counterbalance to enthusiasm.
- Bender et al. (2021). “On the Dangers of Stochastic Parrots.” Foundational paper on risks of large language models. Accessible to non-CS audiences.
Economics and AI
- Autor, D. (2024). “Applying AI to Rebuild Middle Class Jobs.” NBER working paper on AI’s labor market implications.
- Brynjolfsson et al. (2023). “Generative AI at Work.” NBER paper on AI’s effect on customer service worker productivity — one of the first rigorous empirical studies.
- Korinek, A. (2023). “Generative AI for Economic Research.” Practical guide for economists using AI in research workflows.
AI Coding Tools for Researchers
- Goldsmith-Pinkham, P. (2026). “Getting Started with Claude Code.” Excellent walkthrough by a Yale finance professor (Markus Academy series). Covers the hierarchy of AI coding tools (browser chat → IDE agents → terminal agents), context window management, and data privacy for researchers. Includes clear diagrams of how LLM conversations work internally, plus practical tool recommendations: Ghostty (GPU-accelerated terminal), Zellij (terminal multiplexer), and Oh My Zsh. Key insight: treat Claude Code like “a very capable RA that lives on your computer.” Pairs well with modules B1, B3, and C2.
Maintenance note: This page requires a semester-level refresh. Tool pricing, data policies, and institutional agreements change. AEA and institutional guidance evolves. Schedule a 30-minute review at the start of each semester to update links, pricing, and policy references.