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Citing the Use of AI Tools

Learn how to cite AI tools in a variety of citation styles.

Using AI Tools in Papers or Theses

Always ask your instructor or supervisor whether AI tools are allowed for your assignment or thesis. Unless you are told it's ok, assume it isn't. If using AI, always verify the information and sources generated. AI tools generate false or inaccurate information (hallucinate) and make up or cite non-existent sources.

AI Tools and Research Publication

Publishers have their own guidelines about using, citing and disclosing the use of AI in research for publication. To find these guidelines check author submission information, editorial board policies, or ask the journal editor.

Why Cite?

It needs to be clear which words and ideas are our own and which come from others. The way we do this is to cite properly. Claiming words, ideas, or AI generated content as our own without citing is plagiarism.

Citation vs Acknowledgement

Cite any content or ideas you get from an AI tool. Acknowledge any use of AI as part of your process. For example: We acknowledge that ChatGPT 4.0 was used to provide input on the structure and outline of this page. For examples of how to acknowledge, see Laurier's Generative AI Guidelines. 

How to Cite

APA Style

Basic Format

In your paper, describe how you used the tool, provide the prompt or question you used, and quote any text generated by the AI tool. Cite AI both in-text and in the list of references. When using chat-based AI tools, provide the URL for the specific chat in your citation.

In-text Citation

  • Format:
    • (Creator of Tool, year)
  • Example (if citing ChatGPT):
    • (OpenAI, 2026)

Reference List

  • Format:
    • AI tool creator. (year, month, day). Title of chat in italics. [Description of AI tool used]. URL of the specific chat 
  • Example:
  • If it is "unhelpful, unethical, or otherwise inappropriate" to cite a specific chat, provide a general citation to the tool instead. For example:

More Information

More information on citing AI in APA style

Chicago Style - Author-Date

Basic Format

In your text, discuss how you used AI. Cite any AI-generated content, whether paraphrased or quoted, using an in-text citation. Cite as a Personal Communication. Do not include in your bibliography.

Use the AI tool (e.g., ChatGPT) as the author and the developer of the tool (e.g. OpenAI) as the publisher. Provide the date the content was generated, the tool's version, and a link to the AI content (e.g. chat history) where publicly available. If you don't include the prompt in your text, include it in the note. If there are multiple prompts in a chat, summarize the prompts.

Examples

  • If the prompt is mentioned in the text:
    • Format: (Author, Publisher, Day Month, Year, Specific Chat URL)
    • Example: (Text generated by ChatGPT, OpenAI, 8 March, 2026, https://chat.openai.com/share/90b8137d-ff1c-4c0c-b123-2868623c4ae2)
  • If the prompt is not mentioned in the text:
    • Format: (Author, Response to [prompt], Publisher, Day Month, Year)
    • Example: (ChatGPT, Response to "Why do cats sleep so much," OpenAI, 31 April 2026) 

More Information

Chicago Style - Notes and Bibliography

Basic Format

In your text, discuss how you used AI. Cite any AI-generated content, whether quoted or paraphrased, in a note.

Cite AI as a Personal Communication. Do not include in your bibliography.

Use the AI tool (e.g., ChatGPT) as the author and the developer of the tool (e.g. OpenAI) as the publisher. Provide the date the content was generated, the tool's version, and a link to the AI content (e.g. chat history) where publicly available. If you don't include the prompt in your text, include it in the note. If there are multiple prompts in a chat, summarize the prompts.

Footnotes

  • If prompt is mentioned in the text:
    • Format: Number. Author, Publisher, Day Month, Year, Specific Chat URL.
    • Example: 1 Text generated by ChatGPT, OpenAI, 8 March, 2026, https://chat.openai.com/share/90b8137d-ff1c-4c0c-b123-2868623c4ae2.
  • If prompt is not mentioned in the text:
    • Format: Number. Author, Response to [prompt], Publisher, Day Month, Year. 
    • Example: 1 ChatGPT, Response to "Why do cats sleep so much," OpenAI, 31 April 2026. 

More Information

CSE Style

Basic Format

Discuss your use of AI in your paper. Use an in-text citation and cite as a Personal Communication. Do not include in your bibliography.

In-text Citation

  • Format:
    • (AI Tool, Type of communication, Date)
  • Example:
    • (ChatGPT, response to prompt from author, 28 April 2026)

More Information

MLA Style

Basic format

  • Author: Leave out the author.
  • Title of source: The AI prompt you used, or a brief description of what was generated by the AI.
  • Title of container: The name of the AI tool.
  • Version: The version of the AI tool.
  • Publisher: The company who makes the AI tool.
  • Date: The date the content was generated.
  • Location: The URL for the content you generated (for example, chat history), or the URL of the tool if this is not available.

In-text Citation

  • Format:
    • ("Short version of title of source")
  • Example:
    • ("Describe the symbolism")

Reference List

  • Format
    • "Prompt text" prompt. AI tool, version of tool, company that made the tool, date text was generated. URL.
  • Example
    • “Describe the symbolism of the green light in the book The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald” prompt. ChatGPT, 13 Feb. version, OpenAI, 8 Mar. 2023, https://chat.openai.com/.

More Information

MLA: citing generative AI

Canadian Legal Citation

Basic Format

  • Name of AI: The name of the AI used.
  • Version: The version of the AI used (e.g. ChatGPT 3.5).
  • Prompt: The prompt used, if applicable. If less than 25 words, give the exact wording in quotation marks. If longer, give a short summary without quotation marks.
  • Developer: The name of the AI developer or company.
  • Date: The date or dates the content was generated.
  • URL: The URL of the content, if available.
  • Additional prompts: Any followup questions or prompts used.
  • Availability: If the AI is not publicly available, say so and indicate how and to whom it is available (e.g. private version available at x company; paid personal subscription).

Full In-Text or Footnote

  • Format:
    • Name of AI, version if available. Prompt. (Translation of prompt if applicable.) (Developer: host if different than developer, date or date range of response). URL if conversation publicly saved (Description of any additional prompts.)
  • Example:
    • ChatGPT, 3.5. Response to “why do citations of united nations documents include meeting information as well as a document number? It seems redundant.” (OpenAI, 12 January 2024). https://chat.openai.com/share/a41ec2d3-0362-4282-b15b-71654fb5302b (Further prompts to request sources of information provided in response.)

Shortened Reference

  • Format:
    • Add the shortened citation in square brackets at the end of the citation the first time the source is cited. For subsequent citations use the shortened format.
    • Use the name of the AI. If the name is not a unique indicator, add a short version of the prompt.
  • Example:
    • First reference: Private LLM. Response to “What are Charter rights?” (Numen Technologies Limited: Personal iPhone, 7 August 2024). Private offline version (not updated by public upstream version as of 21 June 2024). (Further prompts re free speech and freedom of belief.) [Private LLM, “Charter rights”].
    • Subsequent references: Private LLM, “Charter rights”.

More Information

Canadian Open Access Legal Citation Guide: Section 8 AI-Generated Material

Citing and Acknowledging AI-Generated Images
APA Style

In the image caption, indicate that you used AI and which tool was used. 

To cite, use the AI company name, year/date created, the tool used, and the URL of the tool. 

  • Format:
    • AI tool creator. (year). AI tool name in italics. (Month and day) [AI tool description]. URL for AI tool
  • Example:

More information on citing AI in APA style (Citing an AI Tool Generally section)

Chicago Style

Note the use of AI in the image caption. Include the tool, date generated, and the prompt.

MLA Style

In the image caption, give a description of the prompt, the AI tool used, the version of the tool, and the date the image was created. Or, put this information in the works cited/reference list. 

See Citing Generative AI, example #3

Page Owner: Joanne Oud

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