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Citing Your Sources in APA 7th: ChatGPT and Generative AI

When to Cite Generative AI

It is important to acknowledge any work or ideas that come from outside sources in your college assignments, even if those outside sources are generated by artificial intelligence tools such as ChatGPT. Here are some examples of when you should cite ChatGPT or another generative AI tool as a source:

  • When you directly quote or paraphrase any text that is generated by AI
  • When you incorporate any work created by AI into your assignment, including images, data aggregation, etc. 
  • When you use a functional tool provided by AI, such as translating, editing, etc. (You can either mention this in your assignment or cite it in a note.)

In general, if you use generative AI in any capacity for your assignment and are not sure whether or not to cite it, we recommend erring on the side of caution and citing it as a source.

How to Cite Generative AI

Text Generated by AI

Format:

Company That Made the Tool. (Version Year). Name of AI Tool (version) [Type of AI model]. URL for Tool

Example:

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

Images Generated by AI

Format:

Figure X

Title of figure

[Figure goes here]

Note. Image generated using the prompt "[Prompt goes here]" by Company That Made the Tool, Name of AI Tool, Year of version (URL for Tool).

Example:

Figure 1

AI-generated pointillist painting of a sheep

A pointillist digital painting of a sheep in a sunny field of blue flowers

Note. Image generated using the prompt "Pointillist painting of a sheep in a sunny field of blue flowers," by OpenAI, DALL-E, 2023 (https://labs.openai.com).

Numbering:

Figures should be numbered in the order they appear in your assignment.

Secondary Sources Cited by AI Tool

Format:

If you cite an AI-generated summary that provides secondary sources, we recommend citing both the AI tool and the secondary sources, (after double-checking to make sure the sources are legitimate). For example, if an AI-generated summary cites a webpage as a source, your Reference list will include a citation for "Text Generated by AI" (see above) and a second citation for the webpage referenced in the summary. 

Example:

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

"Political unconscious." Oxford Reference, Oxford University Press, https://www.oxfordreference.com/view/10.1093/oi/authority.20110803100334787. Accessed 30 June 2023.

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