An APA Style Blog post gives citation examples along with more advice for using and citing generative AI. APA recommends treating the organization or individual who developed the model as the author.
Because the examples in the blog post were last updated in April 2023, some of the information may no longer be applicable. For example, ChatGPT no longer provides date-based versions that can easily be found and included in references. The following templates and examples use APA-style format as their basis but have been adapted based on ongoing changes to generative AI tools.
(Author/Creator of AI model, Year of version used)
(OpenAI, 2024)
(Black Technology LTD, 2024)
Author/creator of AI model. (Year of model). Name of model (Version of model) [Type or description of model]. Retrieved month day, year, from https://xxxxx..
OpenAI. (2024). ChatGPT 3.5 [Large language model]. Retrieved February 26, 2024, from https://chat.openai.com
Black Technology LTD. (2024). Stable Diffusion (Online version) [Image generator]. Retrieved February 28, 2024 from https://stablediffusionweb.com
Note: ChatGPT currently has two available models: ChatGPT 3.5, which is free, and ChatGPT 4, which is subscription-based. The model you are using will appear at the top of the page where you enter prompts.
Purdue University Artificial Intelligence (AI)
History, Information, and Examples.
Confirm with your course coordinator or check your course syllabus before using Artificial Intelligence (AI) in your assessment. Some instructors do not permit the use of AI tools, while others may allow AI with some limitations.
Any permitted use of AI for assessment must be acknowledged appropriately. Your course instructor will provide guidance on how to reference the use of AI tools. Some possible examples include:
Acknowledging your use of generative AI may not always involve a formal citation. For example, you could write a description of the tool you used and how you used it. For guidance on how to acknowledge use of AI in assignments, check with your course instructor.
Some citation styles have developed guidelines for citing ChatGPT and other generative AI. Content from generative AI was initially considered a nonrecoverable source because it couldn't be retrieved. If different users give ChatGPT the same prompt, it produces a unique response each time. However, you can now share output from ChatGPT using the linking feature within the tool or a third-party tool such as ShareGPT or AI Archives. These kinds of links can be useful for citing generative AI content. It is important to note that if you use the link feature within ChatGPT, deleting a conversation from your account will also cause the link to break.
The following examples are based on information provided by popular citation styles. As of February 2024, only APA, Chicago, and MLA have posted guidance about citing generative AI. Guidelines may change and new examples may be added. Consult resources specific to the citation style you are using.
AI models sometimes produce incorrect, biased or outdated information. Verify the accuracy of AI-generated content using reliable sources before including it in your work.
Additionally, there may be legal or ethical issues to consider when using AI. Works created by non-humans may not eligible for copyright protection under certain laws. If you intend to publish work incorporating AI-generated content, check the publisher guidelines about what is allowed.
When interacting with AI models, you should be cautious about supplying sensitive information, including personal, confidential or propriety information or data.
This page was adapted from by the Using Generative AI guide from the University of Alberta, which is licensed under CC BY-NC-SA 4.0 DEED.
This page was adapted from ChatGPT and Other Generative AI Tools by the University of Queensland Library, which is licensed under CC BY-NC 4.0.
