Skip to Main Content

Advancing AI Literacy: From Understanding to Application: Citing AI Generated Content

Citing AI Generated Content

Currently, most citation styles do not provide specific guidelines for referencing ChatGPT or other AI tools. However, there are some available recommendations from a few citation styles. Here’s what they suggest:

Citation examples in different styles

The American Psychological Association (APA) has provided guidelines on how to cite text generated by AI tools like ChatGPT in research or assignments. AI-generated text is considered the output of an algorithm and should be credited accordingly with a reference list entry and an in-text citation for the algorithm's author.

 

Note: In APA Style, the author is defined as the entity “responsible for a work.” Therefore, the AI company—not the AI tool itself—is considered the author.

 

Citing specific AI generated chat/text

  • To use the generated AI chat as one of the references in your work/paper
  • author–date–title–source format (most AI tools include sharing function that provides users with a unique URL and a title for each chat)

In-text citation
(AI Company Name, Year) or AI Company Name (Year)
(Anthropic, 2025) or Anthropic (2025)

Reference list
AI Company Name. (year, month day). Title of Chat [Description]. Tool Name/Model. URL of the Chat

Anthropic. (2025, October 10). Generative AI development in Hong Kong (2022-2025) [Generative AI chat]. Claude Sonnet 4.5. https://poe.com/s/mpkk1rAg3RKZ8d2BiZcj

 

*The date in an AI chat reference is the specific year, month, and day on which a chat occurred or concluded. 

 

Citing AI tools generally

  • When to cite: Indicate that you have used AI tools for your work without citing specific information from them. This includes tasks like editing or refining your writing.
  • Translation: If you use AI to translate your own writing or assignments, state that AI was used for translation and provide a general reference to the tool.
  • Code assistance: Mention when you create or refine code (e.g., in R or SPSS) and have AI adjust it as needed.
  • Visual representations: For tables, figures, or other visual representations created with AI, indicate in the table or figure note that AI was used.

In-text citation
(AI Company Name, Year) or AI Company Name (Year)

(OpenAI, 2025) or OpenAI (2025)

 

Example:

In the text of your paper, particularly in the Method section, describe your use of AI as needed:
“I used ChatGPT (OpenAI, 2025) to edit my paper and provide feedback on clarity and flow.”

Reference list
AI Company Name. (Year). Tool Name/Model [Description]. URL of the tool

OpenAI. (2025). ChatGPT [Large language model]. https://chatgpt.com/

 

*Year: the year in which the AI tool was most recently updated. 

 

References:

American Psychological Association - How to cite ChatGPT

The University of Adelaide - How to cite AI tools using APA 7th

Citing generative AI in APA Style: Part 1—Reference formats

The Modern Language Association (MLA) has adapted to the rise of generative AI tools such as ChatGPT for citation purposes. Whenever you use content created by a generative AI tool (whether it's text, images, data, or other forms) in your own work, it should be cited. This includes paraphrasing, quoting, or incorporating the AI-generated content. Any functional use of the tool, such as editing your prose or translating words, should be acknowledged in a note, within your text, or at another appropriate place. Please note that it is not recommended to treat an AI tool as an author under MLA guidelines which base on policies set by various publishers.

 

In-text citation
("Shortened description of prompt")
("Examples of AI hallucination in AI tools ")

Cited Works List
"Description of prompt" prompt. Name of tool, version name*, Publisher, Date content was generated, URL.
"Examples of AI hallucination in AI tools in South East Asia countries and United States" prompt. ChatGPT, 14 Mar version,  OpenAI, 20 Nov. 2023, https://chat.openai.com/chat
*If version name of the tool is available.

References:
How do I cite generative AI in MLA style?

Credit should be given for content generated by AI tools, such as text from ChatGPT. This can be achieved by acknowledging the AI tool within your text. ChatGPT is considered as "author", while its developer, "OpenAI" is regarded as the "publisher" or "sponsor". The date when the text was generated should also be included. However, the URL of the ChatGPT tool is not essential for citation, as the cited content may not be accessible via the provided URL.

In Chicago style, you should cite AI-generated content in your work using a note or parenthetical citation. However, unless there is a publicly accessible link, it is recommended not to include this source in your bibliography or reference list.

 

Author-date Style - Parenthetical citation

(Name of Tool, Date)

(ChatGPT, March 20, 2023)

Notes

1. Content generated by Name of tool, Publisher, Date content was generated, URL

1. Text generated by ChatGPT, OpenAI, March 7, 2023, https://chat.openai.com/chat

OR

1. Name of tool, prompt response, Publisher, Date content was generated.

1. ChatGPT, response to "Examples of AI hallucination in AI tools," OpenAI, November 20, 2023.

References: The Chicago Manual of Style Online - Citation,  Documentation of Sources