Overview
Element451 integrates artificial intelligence throughout its platform to help higher education institutions operate more efficiently, communicate more effectively, and better support students. These capabilities are powered by large language models (LLMs) from leading AI providers.
We believe responsible AI design, deployment, and governance can meaningfully enhance higher education — and that this requires strong security, transparent data handling, rigorous testing, and shared accountability between Element451 and the institutions we serve.
This article explains how our AI works, which models power it, how we protect your data, and what safeguards are in place to ensure responsible use.
How We Use AI Models
Element451 does not own, build, or train large language models. Instead, we leverage best-in-class, general-purpose LLMs through paid, enterprise-grade APIs from providers like OpenAI and Google. We deliberately avoid consumer-tier or free AI services to ensure:
Contractual data protection commitments from every provider
Higher standards for security, availability, and reliability
Terms that explicitly prioritize customer data privacy
We don't commit to any single AI model. We select LLMs based on specific use case requirements and continuously evaluate emerging models to ensure we're delivering the best results.
Current AI Providers + Models in Use
Element451 uses approximately 30 models across seven providers, each selected for specific capabilities within the platform:
Provider | What it Provides/Assists With and Models Used |
OpenAI | Bolt Agents, Transcription, Image Generation, and Search |
Anthropic | Transcript Evaluation and Application Reading
Models: Claude Haiku 4.5 |
Real-Time Voice, Search, and General Processing | |
Groq | Real-Time Voice |
Voyage AI | Search Result Ranking and Relevance |
Deepgram | Real-Time Voice |
Note: The above list reflects usage at the time this article was written and may change as models are added, updated, or retired.
How Your Data Is Protected
Encryption
All data is encrypted both in transit and at rest using industry-standard protocols. Every AI interaction is handled through secure APIs — Element451 maintains full system control without exposing raw model access to end users.
No Model Training on Your Data
Data sent through Element451 is never used to train or improve AI models. The underlying LLMs do not learn from your conversations, and we do not fine-tune models using institutional data. When data is shared with a provider, it serves only as context for the specific task being performed — nothing more.
Minimal Data Retention
When AI features are used, only the data relevant to the task at hand is shared with the LLM provider, and solely for the purpose of completing that task. Our business agreements with providers prohibit long-term storage of customer data and restrict any use beyond immediate request processing and regulatory compliance.
Data Roles
Element451 acts as the data processor. Your institution remains the data controller. This means you retain ownership and governance over your data at all times.
Safety and Guardrails
Purpose-Built for Higher Education
Element451's AI is not a general-purpose chatbot dropped into a campus setting. Every agent is purpose-built exclusively for higher education, which means:
Domain-aware communication — agents understand the context, terminology, and sensitivities of the student experience
Institution-provided context — agents prioritize your school's specific information over general knowledge
Escalation protocols — sensitive scenarios such as student wellbeing concerns trigger appropriate escalation paths rather than generic AI responses
Harm Reduction Through Design and Testing
We take a layered approach to preventing harmful or off-topic AI outputs:
Explicit agent constraints scoped to higher education contexts and your institution's use case
Provider-level safety — we use LLMs that have undergone extensive safety testing and alignment by their developers
Dedicated QA testing — Element451 continuously refines agent instructions based on real-world higher education testing and QA findings
Backend safeguards that prevent agent manipulation, maintain appropriate response scope, and block off-topic conversations
Real-time content monitoring — when sensitive content emerges, it is flagged in real time and made visible to your institution for review
Transparency and Compliance
AI Identification
Element451 clearly identifies when a user is interacting with AI rather than a human:
Chat interfaces display AI identification chips so students and prospects always know they're speaking with a bot
Voice interactions include announcements identifying the AI at the start of the conversation
Recording Compliance
For institutions using AI voice capabilities, Element451 provides optional settings to support recording compliance:
Consent prompts at the start of calls
Visual recording banners during interactions
Important: Institutions using AI voice capabilities are responsible for ensuring compliance with all applicable local, state, and federal laws related to phone communication and call recording.
Shared Responsibility
AI safety is not achieved through technology alone. Element451 and your institution each play a role:
What Element451 provides:
Secure infrastructure and enterprise-grade AI integrations
Agent design with built-in guardrails and safety constraints
Real-time monitoring, content flagging, and visibility tools
Ongoing QA testing and continuous system improvement
Transparent data handling and provider accountability
What your institution owns:
Oversight of AI-driven communications and their outcomes
Human judgment in reviewing flagged content and edge cases
Compliance with applicable laws and regulations, including recording and consent requirements
Decisions about how and where AI is deployed within your enrollment and student engagement workflows
Our Commitment
Element451 is committed to responsible transparency, rigorous data protection, proactive risk reduction, and continuous improvement of our AI systems. As AI technology evolves, we will continue to update our practices, our safeguards, and this documentation to reflect the current state of our platform.