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CAIL Sandbox Docs

Getting Started

Get access, sign in, and start experimenting with open-weight models.

What You’ll Find Here

The CAIL Sandbox is a shared chat platform for teaching and research at CUNY, built for privacy and hands-on experimentation with open-weight models.

These docs bring together guidance and examples to help you get the most out of the Sandbox, from getting started to developing and refining course activities. Teaching is the main focus, with material you can also adapt for research and experimentation beyond the classroom.

Get Access

Apply for individual use or for a class using the steps below. Students do not submit individual access requests; they join through their instructor’s invitation.

Request Individual Access

Individual access lets you use resources shared by the CUNY AI Lab. It does not automatically include Workspace access for creating configurations; email the CUNY AI Lab team to request it.

  1. Open the individual access application, select My own access, and sign in with CUNY Login if prompted.
  2. Fill in your details and intended use. Selecting tools of interest is optional; one application covers the Lab’s tools.
  3. Complete the verification and select Submit Application. Watch your verified CUNY email for approval, then continue to First Login.

Request Course Access

Get course approval before preparing the class environment or inviting students. You can apply without an existing individual Lab account.

  1. Open the course application and sign in with CUNY Login if prompted. Confirm that A class I’m teaching or organizing is selected.
  2. Complete your details, planned use, and all Class details, including dates and estimated enrollment. Check I teach or lead this class, complete the verification, and submit.
  3. Wait for approval by email. Then open your course in My classes and create or copy its invitation link.
  4. Sign in to the Sandbox and confirm access to the course’s automatically created private group and text channel. Then share the invitation with students. See Student Onboarding for class setup guidance.

Join Course as a Student

Use your instructor’s invitation link; do not submit an individual access request.

  1. Open the invitation, sign in with CUNY Login, and confirm enrollment. If you need the link, ask your instructor.
  2. Follow First Login. Your course group and text channel membership are added automatically when you enroll and sign in to the Sandbox.

First Login

What You Need

  • CUNY credentials (the same login you use for other CUNY services)
  • A web browser (Chrome, Firefox, Safari, or Edge)
  • About 10 minutes to explore

Step by Step

  1. Navigate to chat.ailab.gc.cuny.edu

    • Bookmark this page for later use.

  2. Select “Continue with CUNY Login”

    • The Sandbox uses CUNY’s authentication system, so you’ll be redirected to the standard CUNY login page

  3. Enter your CUNY credentials and complete any two-factor authentication if prompted

    • Same process as accessing CUNY email or Blackboard

  4. You’ll land on the main chat interface

    • The model selector is on the right inside the message box. Use the left sidebar for your chats; Workspace requires separate access.

If you joined a course, confirm that its private text channel is available before continuing. If login stalls, try a private browser window or a different browser; for help, contact ailab@gc.cuny.edu.

Your First Chat

Try This

In the chat input at the bottom of the screen, type something simple

“Explain the concept of scaffolding in education, suitable for graduate students in a teaching methods course.”

Press Enter (or click the send button). The AI model responds.

Click the model name on the right inside the message box to switch models, including during a chat. Compare how models handle writing, reasoning, and images, as well as their response speed.

Exploring the Interface

For terminology and interface layout, see Sandbox Basics.

Customizing Your Experience

Settings You Might Want to Adjust

  1. Open your profile menu in the sidebar
  2. Select Settings
  3. Review the settings below.

General Tab

  • Theme — Choose light, dark, or system to match your device.
  • System Prompt and Advanced Parameters — Set personal defaults if you need them.

Interface Tab

  • Enter to Send — Choose how you send messages and insert line breaks.

To choose a default model, open a new chat, select a model in the message box, and choose Set as default in the selector.

Account Tab

  • Profile Picture — Optional, but helps when collaborating with colleagues
  • Display Name — How your name appears to others when you share models or knowledge bases

Save and Return to Chat

Once you’ve adjusted your preferences

  1. Scroll to the bottom of the Settings panel
  2. Click Save
    • Your settings persist across sessions
  3. Click the X or press Escape to close Settings
  4. You’re back to the chat interface, ready to work

What’s Next?

After the CUNY AI Lab team enables Workspace access, follow the Design & Test guides to

  • Create custom models with specific behaviors
  • Build knowledge bases from your course materials
  • Attach tools for tasks such as web search or code execution

Try different models by using the model selector in the message box, upload a document and ask questions about it, or experiment with different prompts.

Tips for Getting Started

Start small. Try the default models and use what you learn from those chats to decide which configurations to build.

Name chats you want to revisit. Open the three-dot menu beside a chat in the sidebar and choose Rename. This makes it easier to find later when you want to revisit a useful interaction.

Experiment in Workspace. Once access is enabled, create and test private configurations as you learn how the Sandbox works.

Ask for help. Contact the CUNY AI Lab team or check the community channels when you need help.

Privacy and Chat History

Requests to AI providers are configured for zero retention; use of prompts and responses for model training is prohibited. Chats may still be saved in your Sandbox account. Administrators can access stored chats; sharing a chat or posting in a course channel also makes that content available to its audience. See the Lab’s description of the Sandbox.

Additional Resources

Continue to Sandbox Basics →