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How to Cite Generative Artificial Intelligence (AI)

Guide for citing artificial intelligence tools

Do I need to cite content generated by artificial intelligence?

Yes. Whenever using information or ideas from any source, including AI, you need to include a citation. This allows readers to see and evaluate your information sources. 

Please note:

  • Representing content generated by artificial intelligence as your own is a violation of UWW's Academic Misconduct policy
  • Confirm that your instructor allows AI tools like ChatGPT to help complete your assignments

As of August 2024, the following are the recommendations from the major citation styles for citing  Artificial Intelligence tools such as ChatGPT. Since this technology is still under development, these recommendations are subject to change. 

MLA Citation: AI

Key Elements

  1. Prompt
  2. AI Tool
  3. Version
  4. AI Tool publisher
  5. Date accessed
  6. Tool URL (no http)

General format: Open quotes promt provided to artificial intelligence tool close quotes prompt period in Italics artificial intelligence tool non italics comma version period the word version comma artificial intelligence tool publisher comma date comma tool U R L. Example description Open quotes based on the novel comma what do blue eyes symbolize in Toni Morrison apostrophe s in italics The Bluest eye question mark non italics close quotes prompt period in italics ChatGPT non italics coma 13 Feb period version comma OpenAI comma 7 aug period 2023 comma chat period openai period com forward slash chat

APA Citation: AI

Artificial Intelligence Tools

 

General format: AI tool publisher period open parenthesis publication year close parenthesis period in italics AI tool non italics open parenthesis version close parenthesis open bracket AI format close bracket period AI tool URL Example description: OpenAI period open parenthesis 2023 close parenthesis period in italics ChatGPT non italics open parenthesis Mar 14 version close parenthesis open bracket Large language model close bracket period https colon forward slash forward slash chat period openai period com forward slash chat

In-text Citation

Parenthetical citation: (OpenAI, 2023)

Narrative citation: OpenAI (2023)

The in-text citations and references above are adapted from the reference template for software in Section 10.10 of the Publication Manual (American Psychological Association, 2020, Chapter 10).

Turabian Citation: AI

Generative Artificial Intelligence

When prompt is mentioned in the text

N: Cite AI text only in footnotes. Include the name of the tool, the tool publisher, date the text was generated, and the tool URL.

General format: note number period text generated by name of artificial intelligence tool comma A I tool publisher comma date text was generated comma tool U R L period Example description: 1 period Text generated by ChatGPT comma OpenAI comma August 7 comma 2023 comma https colon forward slash forward slash chat period openai period com forward slash chat period

 

When prompt is not mentioned in the text

N: Cite AI text only in footnotes. Include the name of the tool, the prompt, the tool publisher, date the text was generated, and the tool URL.

General format: note number period artificial intelligence too comma respons to open quotes prompt comma close quotes A I tool publisher comma date text was generated comma tool U R L period Example description: 1 period ChatGPT comma response to open quotes Based on the novel comma what do blue eyes symbolize in Toni Morrison's The Bluest Eye question mark comma close quotes OpenAI comma March 7 comma 2023 comma https colon forward slash forward slash chat period openai period com forward slash chat period

See the Chicago Manual of Style Q&A for additional guidance.

Examples in this guide are provided for footnote citations (N) and bibliography (B). If you cite one source multiple times, you may use shortened notes for citations after the first one.