Please note that there are different ways to incorporate AI into your scholarly work, thus the format of citation will differ depending upon your usage. Some of the ways that researchers may use AI in their work necessitating a citation are as follows:
Your professor, via the syllabus for your class, will identify when and how they want you to cite the use of AI tools. Pay attention to this information. If you doubt whether you should be citing the use of AI, please ask your professor: do not assume anything.
The style guide your professor asks you to use to cite AI tools may not have incorporated rules for citing AI tools into their official guides. However, some publishers of these guides have written guidance on their blogs or answered FAQs on their websites about citing AI to assist writers and researchers who need this information before it can be addressed in the official manuals. Below are some general guidelines.
Note: do not assume that the citations generated by AI tools are accurate; always verify that the sources cited by AI tools actually exist and are formatted accurately.
Read this blog carefully for guidance about citing to AI using APA Style.
APA states that quoting ChatGPT’s text from a chat session is like sharing an algorithm’s output; thus, credit the author of the algorithm with a reference list entry and the corresponding in-text citation. Here is an example from of how you might cite quoted text from a ChatGPT response:
In Text
When prompted with “What is empathy?” the ChatGPT-generated text indicated that “Empathy is the ability to understand and share the feelings of another person. It involves both recognizing and resonating with another's emotions, which can help foster compassion and effective communication.” (OpenAI, 2024).
Reference List
OpenAI. (2024). ChatGPT (Aug 16 version) [Large language model]. https://chat.openai.com/chat
Read this blog carefully for guidance about citing to AI using APA Style.
Here is an example of citing a direct quote from ChatGPT using MLA format:
Quoted in Your Prose
When asked to describe the weather in Massachusetts in two sentences, ChatGPT stated "Massachusetts experiences a temperate climate with distinct seasons, featuring cold winters with snowfall and warm, humid summers. The weather can vary widely depending on the region, with coastal areas often milder than the more inland areas." (“In two sentences”).
Works-Cited-List Entry
“In two sentences, describe the weather in Massachusetts” ChatGPT, 16 Aug. version, OpenAI, 16 Aug. 2024, chat.openai.com/chat.
Read this blog carefully for guidance about citing to AI using Chicago Style.
Here is an example of quoting text generated by ChatGPT in Chicago Style:
In Text
The following definition of a marsupial was generated by ChatGPT, "A marsupial is a type of mammal that gives birth to relatively undeveloped young, which then continue to develop outside the womb, typically in a pouch on the mother's belly. Examples of marsupials include kangaroos, koalas, and wombats."
Numbered Footnote or Endnote
1. Text generated by ChatGPT, OpenAI, March 7, 2023, https://chat.openai.com/chat.
