Citing AI-Produced Content Responsibly
We are still learning how to ethically use and cite generative AI resources. As such, err on the side of transparency. Here are some general strategies:
- Link. Some generative AI tools, such as ChatGPT, allow users to share a link to retrieve individual chats. For those tools, use the citation guidance below and include a link.
- Transcript. Save a transcript of your chat. Include it with your work as an appendix or as a supplemental material available online.
- Acknowledgement statement. Describe how you used the tool. This strategy can be convenient when you only use generative AI to plan your paper or generate ideas and don’t include any of its generated content.
*This section of is a derivative of AI, ChatGPT, and the Library Libguide by Amy Scheelke for Salt Lake Community College, which is licensed CC BY-NC 4.0
Guidance from Apr 2023:
In-text:
When prompted with “Is the left brain right brain divide real or a metaphor?” the ChatGPT-generated text indicated that although the two brain hemispheres are somewhat specialized, “the notation that people can be characterized as ‘left-brained’ or ‘right-brained’ is considered to be an oversimplification and a popular myth” (OpenAI, 2023).
Reference: OpenAI. (2023). ChatGPT (Mar 14 version) [Large language model]. link URL.
MLA was the first citation style team to provide official guidance.
In-text: (“Describe the symbolism”)
Reference: “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, link URL
1Originator of the communication, medium, Day Month, Year.
1E.g.: OpenAI’s ChatGPT AI language model, response to question from author, 7 February, 2023.
Last Modified: Monday, September 25, 2023 1:47 pm