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AI Literacy: Citing Generative AI and ChatGPT

Citing Generative AI and ChatGpt

Generative AI and ChatGPT  are new and emerging technologies that are changing the academic landscape. Like any sources you use in the course of your research, citations are still necessary. Because the results output of generative AI is not reproducible it is important that researchers:

  • Acknowledge their use of generative software
  • Identify the extent to which they used generative software and how they used it [what prompts they used].
  • Cite it as a source according to their selected citation style.

Please note that there is great debate amongst the academic community about generative AI and its use in the research process.Things are changing at a rapid pace, so always check with the official style manual or their official webpage to confirm citation requirements.

Citing AI: Citation Styles

APA recommends that author's cite their use of ChatGPT similar to how you would cite your use of software in the creation of an algorithm (see APA Manual 10.10 Computer Software, Mobile Apps, Apparatuses, and Equipment). You should include both in-text and reference list entries in your assignments and papers.

The following example was taken directly from the APA Style Blog (McAdoo, 2023)

Example:

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

  • Parenthetical citation: (OpenAI, 2023)
  • Narrative citation: OpenAI (2023)

 

 

McAdoo, T. (2023, April 7). How to  cite ChatGPT. APA Style. https://apastyle.apa.org/blog/how-to-cite-chatgpt?utm_source=twitter&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=apa-style&utm_content=blog-how-to-cite-chatgpt

The Chicago Manual of Style requires authors to acknowledge their use of generative software by including a numbered footnote or endnote. The following example was taken from the Chicago Manual of Style. You can access the official Chicago manual of Style via the library here.

Notes and Bibliography Style:

Example 1. if the text includes the prompt used to generate a response:

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

Example 2. If the text does not include the prompt used to generate a response, include it in the note:

ChatGPT, response to “Explain how to make pizza dough from common household ingredients,” OpenAI, March 7, 2023.

Author / Date Style:

  • (ChatGPT, March 7, 2023)

 

"Citation, Documentation of Sources." Chicago Manual of Style. Accessed 14 February, 2024. https://www.chicagomanualofstyle.org/qanda/data/faq/topics/Documentation/faq0422.html

 

The MLA Handbook requires authors to acknowledge their use of generative software by including a citation whether you paraphrase or directly quote the generate text and to acknowledge how you used it in the completion of your work. The following example was taken from the MLA Handbook . You can access the official MLA Handbook via the library here.

You are expected to include the following elements:

  • Author (the name of the ai tool that was used)
  • Title of the source (describing what was generated or information about the prompt that was used)
  • Title of the container (Name of the AI tool that was used)
  • Version (Version of the AI software that you used)
  • Publisher (Company that developed the AI tool)
  • Date (Date that you used the AI software)
  • Location (general url)

The examples below are directly from the MLA Style Centre.

 

  • Example 1: Paraphrase in Your Prose: Works-Cited-List Entry

“Describe the symbolism of the green light in the book The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald” prompt. ChatGPT, 13 Feb. version, OpenAI, 8 Mar. 2023, chat.openai.com/chat.

  • Example 2: Quoting Text: Works-Cited-List Entry

"In 200 words, describe the symbolism of the green light in The Great Gatsby" follow-up prompt to list sources. ChatGPT, Feb. 13 version, 9 Mar. 2023, OpenAI, https://chat.openai.com/chat.

  • Example 3: Citing Creative Visual Works (AI generated images or art) include as information under the image or figure or include in works cited.

“Pointillist painting of a sheep in a sunny field of blue flowers” prompt, DALL-E, version 2, OpenAI, 8 Mar. 2023, labs.openai.com/.

  • Example 4: Quoting Creative Textual Works: Works-Cited-List Entry

"The Sunflower" villanelle about a sunflower. ChatGPT, Feb. 13 version, 8 Mar. 2023, OpenAI, https://chat.openai.com/chat.

 

"How do I cite generative AI in MLA style?" MLA Style Center, 14 Feb. 2024, https://style.mla.org/citing-generative-ai/

 

 

 

ACS (American Chemical Society) Guide to Scholarly Communication does not currently have examples of how to cite works that are generated using AI. With that being said, it does state that the use of software in the research process "... should be given the same importance as other products of research and therefore should be cited alongside other cited works". (ACS,  2023, 4.3.5.7)

1. Cite the name of the software

2. Identify and cite the author, publisher, or company responsible for creating the software

3. Include the version number with the title (if available)

4. URL

5. Access date ( YYYY-MM-DD)

ACS Recommended Format:

Software or Program Title, version or edition; Publisher: Place of Publication, Year. DOI or URL (accessed YYYY-MM-DD).

Example:

ChatGPT, ChatGPT 3.5; OpenAI: San Francisco, CA, 2023. https://chat.openai.com/ (accessed 2024-02-14).