Use ChatGPT Edu Connectors
Think of Connectors as a bridge between your files and your AI assistant. They let you securely integrate applications outside ChatGPT Edu to bring your data into the AI’s workspace. Here are just some tasks you can leverage Connectors for:
- Search your cloud files or organizational data sources.
- Summarize documents or pull insights from multiple files.
- Extract structured data (e.g., project deadlines, task owners).
- Respond with live citations and file references.
Note: You can also prompt each connector to describe what it can do, but they can't create a Google Doc or compose an email in Google Mail.
Get Started with Connectors
What Connectors are Available?
You can use connectors during chats to interact with:
- Box
- Google Calendar
- Google Drive
- Google Mail
- OneDrive
Work with Connectors
Crafting Prompts for ChatGPT Edu Connectors
Prompt format matters. Be specific about:
- Source (e.g., “Search my Google Drive…”)
- Action (“Summarize,” “Find,” “Compare…”)
- Criteria or filters (e.g., “documents from this year”)
If you’ve enabled syncing, ChatGPT may proactively suggest content unless you direct otherwise.
Uses for Connectors
You can use connector outputs to:
- Build summary tables or meeting notes.
- Pull direct quotes into presentations.
- Draft follow-up emails using context from connected files.
- Use your Connectors with Agent Mode to automate repetitive processes
Advanced Use: Connectors and Deep Research Mode
Deep Research is a thoughtful mode available within ChatGPT Edu. Its purpose is complex, multi-source analyses, including incident retrospectives, competitive landscape studies, and code reviews. Rather than focusing on lightning-fast results, it prioritizes accuracy over speed.
Deep Research mode can also work with connectors to fetch, reason, and cite your own internal sources in addition to web data. It will perform all that and generate a single, coherent report!
When to Toggle Connectors On or Off: A Safety Checklist
As with all GenAI capabilities, there are security concerns. So, when should you choose to use this feature?
- Only enable connectors when they are necessary for the research task you’re performing. For example, use Google Drive or OneDrive only when you need ChatGPT Edu to access your stored files.
- Avoid activating all connectors by default, especially for sensitive data. This will minimize the risk of prompt injection or data leakage.
- Deselect the Automatic use of Gmail, Calendar, or Contacts. Click Settings > Connectors > Select an app > and turn off the Use automatically in chat option.
- Use specific prompts that clearly name the connector source and the action you want the AI model to take.
- Avoid summarizing unknown sources without review.
- If you receive unexpected outputs or unusual behavior, stop chatting immediately.
- Immediately revoke Connector permissions once you’ve completed using connectors with sensitive tasks.
- Clear your browser history and session data after working with sensitive content.
Safety & Privacy Considerations
- OpenAI has built-in mitigations against prompt injection and malicious content, conducted extensive red-teaming, added safeguards to resist malicious instructions on the web, and trained models to resist prompt injection.
- However, Deep Research reads content from the web and documents, which might contain hidden malicious instructions that can mislead the AI model or cause data exposure.