AI, ChatGPT, & Libraries

Before you start

Students, please first confirm with your professor that using ChatGPT or other content produced by generative artificial intelligence (AI) is acceptable before citing it. Your professor may also have a specific way they would like you to reference ChatGPT.

Why should I reference ChatGPT or other AI-generated content?

References tell your reader where your information came from and how you used it in your work. If you use content created by a tool like ChatGPT, including it in your works cited - as you would with any other source - is the responsible thing to do. If you use ChatGPT to help write or structure your paper, even if you do not otherwise quote or paraphrase its content, you will likely wish to acknowledge your use of it in some manner. This provides transparency to your reader.

Are there official guidelines for citing ChatGPT or other AI-generated content?

Generative AI is a relatively new phenomenon. As such, citation styles may lack specific guidelines for referencing AI-generated content. It is likely that guidelines will be updated, so checking for the most recent recommendations is advisable.

In March 2023, MLA provided guidance for citing responses from ChatGPT or output from another generative AI tool.

Format:
"Description of chat" prompt. Name of AI tool, version of AI tool, Company, Date of chat, URL.

Example: 

"Examples of harm reduction initiatives" prompt. ChatGPT, 23 Mar. version, OpenAI, 4 Mar. 2023, chat.openai.com/chat.

In-Text Citation Example:

("Examples of harm reduction")

If you create a shareable link to the chat transcript, include that instead of the tool's URL.

MLA also recommends acknowledging when you used the tool in a note or your text as well as verifying any sources or citations the tool supplies.

In April 2023, APA provided guidance for citing responses from ChatGPT or output from another generative AI tool.

Include a description of the prompt when quoting output from a generative AI tool in your paper. Use the author of the AI algorithm - or the company who produced the tool - in both the in-text citation and full reference. It may be worthwhile to include the chat's transcript as an appendix to your project.

Format:

Author. (Date). Name of tool (Version of tool) [Large language model]. URL

Example:

OpenAI. (2023). ChatGPT (Mar 14 version) [Large language model]. https://chat.openai.com/chat

In-Text Citation Example:

(OpenAI, 2023)

In 2024 the Chicago Manual of Style provided guidance for citing responses from ChatGPT or output from another generative AI tool. 

Explain how the tool has been used and cite the information you have included in the text or in a note even if it has been changed.  

Cited in the text: 

Format: 
Explanation of prompt was generated on Date, by Name of AI tool-version of AI tool. 

Example:

An explanation of how bubble gum is made was generated on September 25, 2024, by Copilot-GPT4.  

Cited in a note: 

Format: 
    Text generated by Name of AI tool-version of AI tool, Company, Date, URL of publicly available archived conversation. 

Examples:

    1. Text generated by CopilotGPT-4, OpenAI, September 25,2024, https://copylinkhere.  

If a prompt is not part of the text, it can be included in the note. If there is more than one exchange with the tool on the topic, a summary can be provided.  

   2. Response to “Explain how paper is made from trees,” CopilotGPT-4, Open AI, September 25, 2024, edited for style and accuracy.  

When the conversation is added to the bibliography or reference list, cite the name of the publisher or developer instead of the name of the tool. Make sure to attach a URL that is open to the public. 

Bing. Response to “How do wind turbines generate energy?” CopilotGPT-4, September 25, 2024. https://copylinkhere.  

For complete information: 14.112: Citing AI-generated content (chicagomanualofstyle.org) 

We are still learning how to ethically use and cite generative AI resources. As such, err on the side of transparency if you use one. Here are some ideas for citing ChatGPT responsibly:

• Save a transcript of your chat. Make it available to or retrievable by your reader, possibly by including it as an appendix to your work or as an online supplement.
• Describe the prompt that generated the specific ChatGPT response.
• Include the date when the response was generated or date of access. This is important as these tools will update regularly.
• Acknowledge how you used the tool. You can do this even if you only use ChatGPT to plan your paper or generate ideas and don't include any of its generated content.