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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, each time you've used it, you must cite it. 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, remember to:

  • name the use or function AI provided to your work

  •  vet sources generated by AI

  • name the tool

  • where it is used in your work

  • date the content was generated

To cite AI in APA style:

Example of in-text citations, generated using ChatGPT on 9/9/2024, and verified by an authoritative APA resource:

Citing ChatGPT in APA format.

To cite ChatGPT (or other AI models) in APA style, the 7th edition recommends treating the model as a non-retrievable source, similar to personal communications. Since it's not retrievable, there is no need to include it in the reference list.

Is the AI response too long? You can include the whole response in an appendix, list of additional materials, or footnote.

 

To cite AI in Chicago style, follow the guidelines for citing personal communications because the information is not retrievable by others. In many types of writing, you can acknowledge the AI tool in your text, "This cookie recipe was generated by ChatGPT." However, if you need a more formal citation (such as in a research paper), here is the recommended format for your Chicago style footnotes/endnotes:

Footnotes/Endnotes:

  • Text generated by ChatGPT, OpenAI, August 27, 2024, https://chat.openai.com/chat
    • Use this style if you have shared the prompt in your text.
  • ChatGPT, response to “Describe how to make chocolate chip cookies,” OpenAI, August 27, 2024.
    • Use this style if you did not mention the prompt in the body of your work.

To cite AI in MLA style, follow the guidelines for citing personal communications because the information is not retrievable by others. Here’s the recommended format:

In-text citation:

  • When paraphrasing: "Paraphrased text" (OpenAI).

  • When quoting: "Your quote here" (OpenAI).

 

Works cited entry:

  • "Prompt." AI Tool Name, Version of Tool Used, Publisher, Date Used, URL.
  • "Describe how to make chocolate chip cookies" prompt. ChatGPT, Version GPT-4o, OpenAI, 27 Aug. 2024, https://chatgpt.com/

Citation Style Guidelines

Citation Format Guidelines

Using Citation Management Tools

The Library subscribes to EndNote, Zotero, and Mendeley Citation management tools.  At present, none of these tools include Artificial Intelligence as a source type, so will not catalog or save your AI use. Use the style guide links included above for examples of how to track and cite the use of AI in your work.