Citing Use of AI or Chatbots
Using AI-generated Content in Your Assignments
- Always confirm with your instructor whether AI tools are allowed for your assignment. Unless you are told it's ok, either assume it isn't or ask first.
- Always verify information and sources generated by AI tools. AI can generate false information and make up or cite non-existent sources.
Why Cite?
- In a university assignment we need to be clear about what words and ideas are our own and which come from other people. Claiming other peoples' words or ideas as our own is plagiarism. We can plagiarize by not giving credit to other peoples' words or ideas through proper citing.
- If you use output from AI tools you need to cite it so it's clear where you got it from. If you don't you are claiming AI output as your own, which is plagiarism.
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.
In-text citation
- Format:
- (Creator of Tool, year)
- Example (if citing ChatGPT):
- (OpenAI, 2024)
Reference list
- Format:
- AI tool creator. (year). AI tool name in italics. (Month and day) [Large language model]. Url for AI tool with link
- Example:
- OpenAI. (2024). ChatGPT (Jan 23 version) [Large language model]. https://chat.openai.com/
More Information
Chicago Style Author-Date
Basic Format
Discuss your use of AI in your paper. To cite AI, use an in-text citation and cite as a Personal Communication. Do not include in your bibliography.
In-text Citation
- Format:
- (Correspondent's Full Name, medium if relevant, Month Day, Year)
- Example:
- (ChatGPT, response to question from author, June 8, 2025)
More Information
Chicago Style with Footnotes
Basic Format
Discuss your use of AI in your paper. To cite AI, use an in-text citation and cite as a Personal Communication. Do not include in your bibliography.
Full Footnotes
- Format:
- Number. Originator of the communication, medium, Day Month, Year.
- Example:
- 1 Text generated by ChatGPT, response to question from author, 8 June, 2023.
Shortened Notes
- Format:
- Number Correspondent's last name, medium
- Example:
- 1 ChatGPT, response to question from author
More Information
MLA Style
- Basic format:
- Author: Leave out the author (MLA only recognizes human authors).
- 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, or the URL of the tool if this is not available.
- In-text MLA citation:
- ("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/share/dccb3610-1db9-4eed-88b1-cdb06f67982a.
- Format