New features
First and foremost, GPT UiO will continue to focus on privacy. In the new version, there are several new features and improvements, but three of them will be especially visible and useful for users: Dark Mode, fewer content filters, and support for custom instructions / context binding for conversations
For the IT department, it is important that the applications are designed and developed in line with users' wants and needs, and behind GPT UiO is an interdisciplinary team working in a user-centered manner based on modern agile principles. The tool has been user-tested, and it is also possible to provide feedback directly from the conversation window through the menu at the top right of the screen. The prioritization of possible application improvements is mostly based on the requests from actual users. And with a total of 12,000 users from universities and colleges across the country, there are many requests coming in.
Dark mode
Users have become accustomed to applications and tools offering the option to turn on a dark visual mode, where the screen background is typically black or dark, and the text is light for good contrast. And it is this dark mode that has been by far the most anticipated by users, according to feedback about the service. Many perceive the dark mode me as more pleasant for the eyes when working for extended periods, and it can also be energy-saving in some cases. Many users also prefer the dark mode when working in the evening, as bright, white screen light can cause sleep problems for some – which is definitely not something that, for example, students preparing for exams need. Now GPT UiO is the first UiO web application with a dark mode. You can change the mode settings from the menu at the top right of the conversation window. It is also possible to set the mode to follow the system settings on your device so that it can automatically switch from light to dark mode in the evening.
Context bound instructions
Another request that many have submitted is the possibility to create and save pre-instructions that "bind" the context for conversations. Such saved instructions are useful if you frequently use GPT UiO for the same tasks, such as translation and summarization of texts. Then you can save a short instruction for reuse that specifies how you want the text to be generated, for example, "Translate from Norwegian to English using academic language, British English spelling. Do not translate product names and sentences within quotation marks." These pre-instructions for conversations that you save can contain up to 750 characters.
Fewer content filters
All GPTs include content filters to prevent inappropriate content from being requested. However, since UiO is a research institution and an institution for higher education, there may be potentially offensive topics that we still need to search for. If you previously requested information about such topics from UiO GPT, you were instantly rejected and placed in a one-minute quarantine. Now we have reviewed the filters and removed many of them, and you will not be banned if you encounter such a filter, instead you will receive a response stating that the search cannot be completed and you can search for something else.
API access for UiO staff
UiO staff who need it can request API access to UiO's API on Azure (information in Norwegian). This enables programming against GPT.
Can I use GPT UiO?
GPT UiO is free and available for students and staff at UiO. Some other institutions, especially in the higher education sector, but also outside it, are currently in a testing period lasting until the new year.
If GPT UiO is in Norwegian in your browser, you can switch languages by clicking the round symbol with a letter in it in the upper right corner of the GPT UiO window.