Skip to Main Content

Artificial Intelligence (AI)

Generative AI, ChatGPT, etc.

Guidelines for Citation Practices

AI and Citation Styles

Since the technology is so new and evolving, many referencing styles do not yet have specific guidelines for citing ChatGPT or other generative AI. Both the Modern Language Association (MLA) and the American Psychological Association (APA) have provided guidance on how to cite AI tools via their websites (see below).

Instructors

If you choose to incorporate generative AI into your course assignments, state explicitly how you would like students to cite their use of generative AI technology within their assignments. 

Students

Confirm with your instructor or check your course syllabus before using AI in your coursework. Some instructors do not permit the use of AI tools, while others may allow AI with some limitations.

Any permitted use of AI in your coursework should be acknowledged appropriately. Your instructor should provide guidance on how to reference the use of AI tools. Some possible examples include:  

  • citing or referencing in the text or list of references
  • an appendix including a full transcript of any prompts and AI-generated responses
  • an AI use disclosure statement that describes which AI tool you used and how you used it

MLA

Using the MLA Template

For more details, read the entire post provided by MLA. This is just a general guideline.

Author

MLA does not recommend treating the AI tool as an author. Skip this step and start with the "Title of Source."

Title of Source

Brief description of what was generated by the AI tool. This may involve including information about the prompt if you did not do so in the text of your document. Add a period at the end, and put quote marks around the statement.

  • "Instructions on how to make coffee using a French press."

Title of Container

Name of the AI tool in italics.

  • ChatGPT,

Version (if available)

Name the version (it could be a number or a date) of the AI tool as specifically as possible. The version is not italicized, but is followed by a comma.

  • 3.5,

Publisher

Name the company that made the tool. Follow this with a comma.

  • OpenAI,

Date

Give the date the content was generated. Follow the year with a comma.

  • 5, Apr. 2024,

Location

Give the general URL for the tool or to the specific content generated if available (some tools allow you to create links to generated content). Do not include https:// at the beginning. Follow the URL with a period.

  • Example of general AI tool URL: chat.openai.com.
  • Example of specific content URL: chat.openai.com/share/20daae5c-1ae1-49b9-9fa1-54d8b9749129.

 

Citation Example

Using a General URL:

"Instructions on how to make coffee using a French press." ChatGPT, 3.5, OpenAI, 5, Apr. 2024, chat.openai.com.

Using a Specific Content URL:

"Instructions on how to make coffee using a French press." ChatGPT, 3.5, OpenAI, 5, Apr. 2024, chat.openai.com/share/20daae5c-1ae1-49b9-9fa1-54d8b9749129.

 

APA