THKI Chat
TH Köln offers its university members their own access to various large language models: THKI Chat. Lecturers, academic staff, students and administrative staff can use this didactic interface to submit inquiries to various AI models - free of charge and in compliance with data protection regulations.
In a nutshell: What is the THKI Chat?
FACTS
Link: https://ki.th-koeln.de
Login: Login with campusID
License: API interface from TH Cologne
TECHNICAL REQUIREMENTS
– Network of the TH Cologne, if necessary VPN connection
– Laptop, smartphone, or tablet
– Browser, no app required
THKI Chat is a didactic interface based on the statewide access KI:connect.nrw by the KI:edu.nrw project. It provides the opportunity of using current AI models, like ChatGPT-4.1 by OpenAI and OpenWeight models like LLaMa, via a secure web interface, to staff and students of the university.
At the TH Köln, THKI Chat serves as a working and learning environment. It offers AI based text generation and editing and uploading of PDF, image and audio files for improved AI output, by using powerful language models. Individual conversations are saved in a chat history.
Data Protection & Accessibility
The THKI Chat web interface supports a pseudonymization of your data (e.g. user identification, IP-address) via KI:connect.nrw and the implimentation of various AI models via the Society of Scientific Data Processing Göttingen (GWDG).
KI:connect is hosted by the RWTH Aachen and free access for all public universities since early 2025.
The services accessible via THKI Chat are not able to trace back content data via communication or authentification. Your
The data entered via THKI Chat are transferred to and processed on a Germany based server. Please also check the terms of use and privacy policy forms.
The language models used by THKI Chat were created by different companies, but no data is transferred to those companies when you use THKI Chat via the GWDG.
This method of using AI features ensures data privacy and data security via controlled access, authentification mechanisms and encrypted data transfer.
Nevertheless: Do not publish any data-sensitive content via the service!
Range of Features
- Text creation and comprehension
- Editable prompts and searchable chat history
- File upload (PDF, image & audio files)
- Multilingual skills
- Output formatting via Markdown and syntax highlighting
Uses
Step by Step
The opportunities and risks of artificial intelligence, particularly for university teaching and studies, have already been presented and discussed at our university. By providing THKI Chat, TH Cologne wants to give its university members the technical basis to explore, reflect on, and evaluate the possibilities and limits of AI in a self-determined manner.
How to prompt correctly
Our prompt guide briefly summarizes what you need to consider when feeding the chatbot with your prompts.
Basics of Artificial Intelligence
We offer an interactive introduction to artificial intelligence and the effective use of AI systems like THKI Chat in the self learning course KI Basics on ILU. This course is accessible to all university members.
Useful Tips
Exchange ideas! The field of artificial intelligence is developing rapidly. In the KI@THK space, you can participate in the discussion and learn more.
Any questions?
Contact digitalelehre@th-koeln.de!
