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Using Generative AI: A Guide for Students

This guide is for students interested in responsible use of generative AI in academic work. It covers deciding if/when to use AI tools in academic work, prompt writing, citing AI, and ethical considerations of AI tools so students can engage thoughtfully

When To Cite

Citing AI Use

If your professor allows the use of AI on an assignment, cite your use of an AI tool if you used it to create text or images. In your citation, you need to be specific about the role or use of AI in both the body of your text as well as a traditional citation format. Use quotations to highlight the exact language generated by AI. Examples of use to cite are: quotes, paraphrasing, summarizing, drafting, outlining, editing text or data.

To cite AI:

  • name the use or function AI provided to your work

  •  vet sources generated by AI

  • name the tool

  • identify where it is used in your work

  • record date the content was generated

Is the AI response too long? Consider including the whole response in an appendix, list of additional materials, or footnote.

APA: Citing Generative AI

Here is the general format for citing a genAI tool in APA style (7th ed):

AI Company Name. (year, month day). Title of chat in italics [Description, such as Generative AI chat]. Tool Name/Model. URL of the chat

  • Parenthetical citation: (AI Company Name, year)
  • Narrative citation: AI Company Name (year)

Read more about citing generative AI in APA style here. 

MLA: Citing Generative AI

Here is the general format for citing a genAI tool in MLA style (9th ed):

"Title of prompt" prompt. AI Tool, model, AI Company, Day Month Year used, stable shareable link to generated content.

If the tool does not provide a stable, shareable link, use the general URL for the genAI tool. 

  • Parenthetical citation: ("title of prompt")

Read more about citing generative AI in MLA style here. 

Chicago: Citing Generative AI

While you may be able to simply acknowledge AI content in your text, "This cookie recipe was generated by ..." But for a formal citation (like a research paper), here is the general format for citing a genAI tool in a numbered footnote/endnote Chicago style (18th ed):

AI Company. Response to "Full text of prompt." AI Tool and version number, Month Day Year Used. Direct URL of chat.

  • If the prompt hasn’t been included in the text, it can be included in the note.

    • Response to “Full text of prompt,” AI Tool and version number, AI Company, Month Day, Year Used.

Read more about citing generative AI in Chicago style here.