Google Gemini and Zoom AI Companion now available to TMU faculty and staff
Starting April 29, 2025, all faculty and staff can use their TMU Google Workspace account to access the education version of the Google Gemini app, a prompt-based generative artificial intelligence (AI) tool. You can find Gemini at gemini.google.com (external link) or via the mobile app for Android (external link) and iOS (external link) .
Alongside Gemini, Zoom’s AI Companion is now available to all faculty and staff. You may choose to enable the AI Companion under your individual Zoom account settings.
Gemini does not access TMU files
As the Gemini app is part of the Google Workspace service, your data is protected under TMU’s core agreement with Google when you log in to Gemini with your TMU credentials. Interactions with Gemini stay within TMU’s instance of Google cloud, and Google will not use your prompts or responses to train its AI models.
TMU is not enabling functionality that allows Gemini to work with or scan your TMU Gmail or Google Drive contents, files and folders.
Protecting TMU data while using Gemini
In tandem with TMU’s baseline privacy settings for Gemini, all faculty and staff hold a responsibility to protect TMU data while using the app. Only public or low-sensitivity information should be input to Google Gemini. Sensitive and confidential information should never be used in prompts, uploaded files or other activities in Gemini.
For help defining what is considered sensitive information, please review TMU’s Information Classification Standard and Handling Guidelines.
What you can do with Gemini
Gemini is Google’s generative AI platform built using Google’s own large language models. Gemini allows you to interact with these models through a chat interface where you can ask questions or give prompts for help with tasks such as writing, planning or learning.
To improve your success with the Gemini app, please review:
- TMU’s Google Gemini Help Centre
- Generative Artificial Intelligence in Learning and Teaching from TMU’s Centre for Excellence in Learning and Teaching
- considerations for Gemini in relation to copyright, citations, finding library resources and more in TMU Libraries’ Generative AI Guide
- TMU’s overview on responsible use of generative AI
- best practices when writing prompts for Gemini (external link) from the Google Workspace Learning Centre
Improving Zoom meeting efficiency with AI
Accompanying Gemini’s introduction at TMU is the activation of Zoom’s AI Companion—a feature that can enhance the accessibility and efficiency of virtual meetings in the Zoom platform. Meeting hosts can use AI Companion to automate meeting tasks, including note taking, meeting summaries and generating action items.
Consistent with privacy protocols when using Gemini, faculty and staff should consider the sensitivity of meeting topics prior to using AI Companion for individual meetings. Please review host responsibilities and avoid discussing sensitive information while Zoom’s AI Companion is enabled.
Keeping Zoom updated
To ensure compatibility and access to the latest security improvements, starting May 3, 2025, your Zoom desktop or mobile app must be updated to version 6.1 or higher. Learn how to keep Zoom up to date.
Questions?
If you have any questions about responsible and ethical use of AI tools or experience technical issues with Google Gemini or Zoom AI Companion, please contact the Computing and Communications Services (CCS) Help Desk via the IT Help portal, help@torontomu.ca or 416-979-5000, ext. 556806.
If you have any questions about AI use in learning and teaching, please contact the Centre for Excellence in Learning and Teaching via the AskCELT portal or askcelt@torontomu.ca.