ChatGPT Connectors
What Are Connectors?
Connectors are tools that let GenAI platforms (like ChatGPT) securely link to your external services, such as email, cloud storage, or calendars. They boost productivity by letting AI work with your existing apps and data. However, they also come with privacy considerations you should understand before turning them on.
Connector Features
Examples of Popular Connectors
- Google Drive Connector: Lets ChatGPT access and retrieve files or folders from your Google Drive
- Outlook Connector: Connects ChatGPT to your Outlook email and calendar
- Microsoft Teams Connector: Allows ChatGPT to interact with Teams messages, channels, and files
- GitHub Connector: Enables ChatGPT to search, read, and summarize code repositories
- Other Supported Connectors: Additional integrations are available, such as linking with cloud storage or productivity apps
Why Privacy Matters with Connectors
When you connect external services, you’re granting AI access to potentially sensitive information. Even if the AI doesn’t store the data, it can process, summarize, or act on it. That means:
- You should know exactly what data is being accessed
- You should have a clear purpose for connecting it
- You should review and adhere to the CES Privacy Principles while using AI
A summary table of these principles and examples related to connectors is below. You can also learn more about these privacy principles in the links below.
| Principle | Example |
|---|---|
| Purpose Limitation | Before enabling or leveraging a connector, determine the specific purpose for accessing data. |
| Data Minimization | Don't pull data into an AI tool via a connector that is not tied to a specific purpose and that you do not have an appropriate and legal justification to process. |
| Lawfulness | Don't violate any privacy and policy agreements. Refer to BYU's Data Use, Privacy, and Security Policy and the CES Information Classification document for more information. |
| Transparency | Inform users when you use connectors that may access their data. |
| Protection | Use only services that have been approved. Consult the current approved list. |
| Duration | Use connectors with retention settings and delete or de-identify data once the task is complete. |
Learn more about Privacy Principles and the Responsible use of AI
Artificial Intelligence Principles
Adhering to Principles While Using AI
Data De-Identification
Select your CES profile icon in the bottom-left corner and click Settings > Connectors > Connect on the application.
You will see a list of connectors that have been approved and enabled in CES ChatGPT. Connectors that have not been enabled will appear grayed out and unavailable for authentication or use.
When you click a connector, you will be prompted to sign in to the associated service using your institutional credentials. For instance, a BYU user connecting to Microsoft Outlook will authenticate with their BYU login credentials.
Since access permissions remain tied to your identity (e.g., your BYU account in Microsoft Outlook), you retain the same access rights you would have when using the service directly, outside of ChatGPT.
Connectors that are available today in CES ChatGPT. You will use your institution credentials to access these connectors.
| Connector | Description |
|---|---|
Box
|
Search and reference files. |
GitHub
|
Access repositories, issues, and pull requests. |
Google Calendar
|
Look up events and availability. |
|
Google Drive
|
Search and reference files from your Drive. |
Microsoft OneDrive
|
Upload SharePoint and OneDrive for Business files in messages sent to ChatGPT. |
Outlook Calendar
|
Look up events and availability. |
|
Outlook Email
|
Search and reference your Outlook email. |
SharePoint
|
Search and pull from shared sites and OneDrive. |
Teams
|
Look up chats and messages. |