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Artificial Intelligence: Citing AI

Citation Styles

Prior to using any AI-based tools in your courses ask your professor for permission and the details on how to cite the use of AI tools.

If AI tools are used, be transparent about your use of AI. Acknowledge the use of AI in your acknowledgements, your text, and your cited sources (footnotes, endnote, bibliography).

Acknowledgement Examples

Include the tool(s) and task(s) for which AI was used.

  • "This paper was produced with drafting and grammar support from ChatGPT."
  • "Images in this paper were identified with support from ChatGPT."
  • "ChatGPT was used to translate non-English language journal articles reviewed and cited in this paper."

Best Practice for Citation URL Example

Since the shareable URL link to the transcript of your conversation with the AI tool can expire or be deleted prior to the completion of your project and/or academic term, it is best to save both the URL link to and transcript of your conversation with the AI tool. Use the URL link in your citation. Save a copy of the transcript of your conversation with the AI tool by saving it has a .pdf, copying and pasting it into a Word file, exporting it to a Google Doc, or taking a screenshot of it. 

Building Blocks

  • Title of Source: How to measure air pressure in tires
  • Date: May 12, 2025
  • Title of Tool / Publisher/ Title of Container and Version: ChatGPT-4.5 (Feb 27 version)
  • Description: Large language model
  • Location: https://chatgpt.com/c/6821f2f3-d638-8002-9023-01e9de7c5329
  • Transcript: See .pdf document below (Transcript of Conversation with ChatGPT) on how to measure air pressure in tires.

APA

APA: Citing ChatGPT and other AI text generators

Building Blocks

  • Author: Recognize the creator of the model as the author (e.g. OpenAI, Google, etc.).
  • Date: Include the date the content was generated. 
  • Title: Use the name of the AI tool (e.g. ChatGPT, Gemini).
  • Version: Name the version of the AI tool as specifically as possible. If possible, include the date the version was last updated in parentheses.
  • Description: Use text in brackets to specify the type of generative AI used (e.g. large language model).
  • Location: Include the URL to your conversation with the AI tool.

Format

  • Author (Date). Title (Version). [Description]. Location.
  • Company that made the tool (date text was generated). AI tool (version of tool) [Large language model]. URL. 
  • In-text citation: (OpenAI, 2025)

Example

For more information see the APA Style Guide.

Chicago

Chicago: Citing ChatGPT and other AI text generators

In Chicago, you'll cite generative AI differently depending on whether or not you included the prompt in the text of your paper. If you included it in your paper, you don't need to repeat it in the citation. 

Building Blocks

  • Author: Recognize AI as the author. If you're footnoting quoted text, say "Text generated by [the AI tool]."
  • Date: Include the date the content was generated. 
  • Publisher: Recognize the creator of the model as the publishers (e.g. OpenAI, Google, etc.).
  • Location: Give the URL for the tool. If possible, give the URL for the specific content.

Format

Prompt already included in paper:

1. Text generated by [name of the AI tool], date, Company that made the tool, URL.

Example

Prompt not yet included in paper: 

1. [Name of the AI tool], response to "prompt," date text was generated, Company that made the tool, URL.

Example

Prompt not yet included in paper: 

1. ChatGPT, response to “How to measure air pressure in tires,” May 12, 2025, OpenAI, https://chatgpt.com/c/6821f2f3-d638-8002-9023-01e9de7c5329.

For more information see the Chicago Style Guide.

Chicago: AI-generated Images

The Chicago Manual of Style's website recommends you cite AI-generated images like any other image, while including both the name of the AI tool that generated the image, the company that created the AI, and the prompt that generated the image.

Building Blocks

  • Title: Use the full prompt, or the first several words of the prompt, as the title.
  • Creator: Use the phrase "image generated by," followed by the company that created the tool and the name of the tool. (e.g. Canva's Text to Image).
  • Date: Give the date the image was generated.

Format

"Prompt," image generated by Company's AI Tool, date image was generated.

Example

  • “How to measure air pressure in tires with images,” image generated by OpenAI’s ChatGPT, May 12, 2025.

For more information see the Chicago Style Guide.

IEEE

The IEEE Author Guidelines for Artificial Intelligence (AI)-Generated Text states that the use of content generated by artificial intelligence (AI) in an article (including but not limited to text, figures, images, and code) shall be disclosed in the acknowledgments section of any article submitted to an IEEE publication. The AI system used shall be identified, and specific sections of the article that use AI-generated content shall be identified and accompanied by a brief explanation regarding the level at which the AI system was used to generate the content. The use of AI systems for editing and grammar enhancement is common practice and, as such, is generally outside the intent of the above policy. In this case, disclosure as noted above is recommended.

Until IEEE shares an official way to cite AI-generated content, follow the IEEE Editorial Style Manual for Authors (2025) guidance in grammar and usage by consulting The Chicago Manual of Style, published by the University of Chicago Press.

MLA

MLA: Citing ChatGPT and other AI text generators

Building Blocks

  • Author: Leave blank. MLA does not recognize AI as an author.
  • Title of source: Describe what was generated by the AI tool. If you have not included information about the prompt in the text of your essay, you need to do that here.
  • Title of container: The name of the AI tool. 
  • Version: Name the version of the AI tool as specifically as possible. 
  • Date: Include the date the content was generated. 
  • Location: Include the URL to your conversation with the AI tool.

Format

"Prompt text" prompt. AI tool, version of tool, company that made the tool, date text was generated. URL. 

Examples

For more information see the MLA Style Guide.

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MLA: Citing AI-generated Images

If you're including an AI-generated image in the body of a paper, give it a figure number (i.e. Fig. 1, Fig. 2) 

Building Blocks

  • Figure number: This corresponds to the number of images you have in your paper. The image are numbered in the ordered that they are used in your paper. 
  • Author: Omit the author section of the citation. MLA only recognizes human authors.
  • Title of work: Use the full prompt, or the first several words of the prompt, in quotation marks, followed by the word "prompt."
  • Title of container: The name of the AI tool. 
  • Version: Name the version of the AI tool as specifically as possible. 
  • Date: Include the date the content was generated. 
  • Location: Include the URL of the AI tool. Include the URL to the specific content if possible.

Format

Fig. 1. "Full prompt" prompt, Name of Tool, version of tool, Company Name, date image was generated, URL.

Example