Generative Artificial Intelligence

This page contains information on how to cite generative AI using APA. Just as with other sources used in your paper, when using generative AI for your research, you need to:

• Give credit
• Allow others to find/access your source material
• Avoid plagiarism

Be sure to cite the generative AI tool used if you:

• Used content/output from generative AI as source material for the research in your paper
• Used generative AI as a tool to help you to brainstorm, develop search terms, format, develop an outline, or any other way to help you with your paper

To write a citation for Generative Artificial Intelligence (GenAI) you will need the following pieces of information:

• Author: Software developer/creator
• Year: The year of the version used
• Title: Name of the GenAI tool
• Version number: Differs depending on the tool. Use the format provided by the tool developer.
• Type of Model: Differs depending on the GenAI tool. Use the format provided by the tool developer.
• URL: Links directly to the GenAI tool (not the developer's homepage)

How to cite ChatGPT

The use of GenAI in academic work and citing such sources is an ever-changing landscape. The following APA citation style is a recommendation based solely on APA Style's Blog, How to cite ChatGPT. The APA style recommended for Gen AI content is very similar to Mobile app reference work and Entry in a mobile app reference work, except that the "Publisher" info is the same as the Author, so it is not repeated. Instead, following the Title, along with the version and model, is the URL to the tool.

The recommended format for in-text citations and references was adapted from Section 10.10 of the Publication Manual which is on the reference template for software (American Psychological Association, 2020).

Anatomy of a GenAI Citation

After first checking with your professor to ensure that you are allowed to use generative AI, it is important to not only cite the information you are using from the generative AI tool but to also note the way in which you have used the generative AI tool (e.g., to summarize, format, brainstorm topics, etc.).

• Include an in-text citation and a reference in your References List
• Note the tool used, purpose and prompt. Example: "The Perplexity generative AI tool was used to provide ideas for the structure of this paper using the prompt: "Provide an outline for a second year college-level essay on the benefits of lily pads to frogs.""
• Include the prompt/description in the Methods section, Introduction or body of your paper. (Ask your professor which is preferred!)
• Add an an Appendix with the output/text from the generative AI or include it in Supplemental Materials. Be sure to call out the Appendix in the body of your paper at least once!​ See the box below for guidance on how to obtain the output/text from the generative AI tool.
• Include the date of access
• Include how you used the model – e.g., to generate search terms, to brainstorm topics, etc.​
• When in doubt, ask your professor!​

It is recommended to include the output from the generative AI that you use in your paper as an Appendix or under a section called "Supplemental  Materials." Because output from generative AI tools is not static, this provides a way for your professor to see the output you used. Include the tool and date along with the text/output. An example might be to include a heading such as: Transcript from [insert tool name, e.g., Chat GPT], on [insert date], using prompt: [insert prompt used]. Then, copy the text into the Appendix.

There are a couple ways to copy text from a generative AI tool

• Save or download
• Copy and paste to a Text or Word file
• Export as a Word, PDF or Text file
• Take a screenshot

Create a sharable link:

(Adapted from: How Do I Cite Generative AI?, McMaster University Library)

It's important to note that the information provided here serves as a general guide. Generative AI might not be allowed in your courses or assignments. If your instructor offers specific guidelines that differ from the information presented here, it's crucial to adhere to your instructor's directives.