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Remember: Before using a generative AI tool for an assignment, make sure your instructor says it’s okay.
Think carefully before citing GenAI in your work. These tools are not always reliable sources, so they may not be the best source for facts. If you decide to use GenAI to create content—like a paraphrase, direct quote, or image—that you include in your assignment, you need to cite it and include it in your reference list. Ask your instructor which citation style to use (APA, MLA, Chicago, etc.).
If you used GenAI in other ways—like brainstorming ideas, making an outline, suggesting examples, or editing—you should acknowledge that use in your assignment. You can do this by writing a short declaration at the end of your work explaining how you used the tool.
Also, if you used an AI tool to translate, proofread, or edit your writing, check with your instructor to see if that’s allowed. It’s a good idea to include those tools in your declaration too.
Adapted from Acknowledging AI Tools and Technologies (University of Melbourne).
If you include AI-generated content (e.g., a paraphrase, direct quote, or image) in your assignment, you must cite the GenAI tool using the citation style required by your instructor.
An APA Style blog post gives citation examples and 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. The following templates and examples use APA-style format as their basis but have been adapted based on ongoing changes to generative AI tools.
| Template | Examples | |
|---|---|---|
|
In-Text Citation |
(Author/Creator of AI model, Year of version used) |
(OpenAI, 2024) (Black Technology LTD, 2024) |
|
Reference List Entry |
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 |
If you include AI-generated content (e.g., a paraphrase, direct quote, or image) in your assignment, you must cite the GenAI tool using the citation style required by your instructor.
An MLA Style Center post includes guidance for using and citing generative AI. MLA does not recommend treating AI tools as authors, so citations should skip the author element.
MLA suggests including the general link to the AI tool (e.g., chat.openai.com/chat). However, if you use a third-party linking tool like ShareGPT, MLA recommends using that link instead.
| Template | Examples | |
|---|---|---|
|
In-Text Citation |
Include the "title of source" element, shortened based on MLA guidelines if needed. For generative AI, the title will usually be a description of what was generated by the AI model. |
("Describe the symbolism") ("Green light") |
|
Reference List Entry |
“Title of source" prompt. Name of AI Tool, version, Company, Date content was generated, URL to AI tool or archived content. |
“Describe the symbolism of the green light in the book The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald” prompt. ChatGPT 3.5, OpenAI, 26 Feb. 2024, chat.openai.com. "Green light in The Great Gatsby in a futuristic style" prompt. Stable Diffusion, online version, Black Technology LTD, 28 Feb. 2024, https://stablediffusionweb.com. |
If you include AI-generated content (e.g., a paraphrase, direct quote, or image) in your assignment, you must cite the GenAI tool using the citation style required by your instructor.
The Chicago Style website describes how AI models can be cited, and the 18th edition of the Chicago Manual of Style (sec. 14.112) gives more information.
Chicago recommends only citing AI in a note (for the notes-bibliography system) or a parenthetical citation (for the author-date system) and not in a bibliography or reference list. However, the Chicago Manual does show how to format a bibliography or reference list entry if one is needed.
| Template | Examples | |
|---|---|---|
| Footnote or Endnote (Notes-Bibliography System) | Note number. Description of prompt, AI model including version, publisher/developer, date the text was generated, URL if available. |
1. Response to "List some keywords related to the topic of environmental impacts of generative AI," ChatGPT-3.5, OpenAI, November 21, 2024, https://chatgpt.com/share/673fb625-697c-8011-a230-ce8a2c34f138. 2. Image generated in response to "Pepperoni pizza" in a surrealist style, Stable Diffusion, Black Technology LTD, February 28, 2024. |
| Bibliography Entry (Notes-Bibliography System) | Publisher/Developer. Description of prompt. AI model including version, date the text was generated. URL if available. | OpenAI. Response to "List some keywords related to the topic of environmental impacts of generative AI." ChatGPT-3.5, November 21, 2024. https://chatgpt.com/share/673fb625-697c-8011-a230-ce8a2c34f138. |
| In-Text Citation (Author-Date System) | Either in the text or in a parenthetical citation, include details like the AI tool you used (including version if available), the date the content was generated, and a description of the prompt. A parenthetical citation should include any information not described in your text. |
ChatGPT-3.5 generated a list of keywords about environmental impacts of generative AI (OpenAI, November 21, 2024). I gave Stable Diffusion the prompt, "Pepperoni pizza" and selected a surrealist style (Black Technology LTD, February 28, 2024). |
| Reference List Entry (Author-Date System) | Publisher/Developer. Year the text was generated. Description of prompt. AI model including version, month and day the text was generated. URL if available. | OpenAI. 2024. Response to "List some keywords related to the topic of environmental impacts of generative AI." ChatGPT-3.5, November 21. https://chatgpt.com/share/673fb625-697c-8011-a230-ce8a2c34f138. |
Acknowledging the use of generative AI tools is important. Keep records for how you used ChatGPT or other tools, and provide this information as part of your assignment submission. Use the following template to create your acknowledgement of AI use.
I acknowledge the use of [insert AI system(s) and link] to [specific use of generative artificial intelligence]. I entered the following prompts on [date]: [list of prompts]. The output from these prompts was used to [explain use]. A copy of the original output is attached with my assignment.
I acknowledge the use of ChatGPT (https://chat.openai.com/) to generate materials for background research and self-study for this assignment. I entered the following prompts on 7 April 2025: "Write a 250 word summary about the history of the Kamloops Indian Residential School. Add two references."
The original output was adapted and modified for the final response. A copy of the original output is attached with my assignment.
I acknowledge the use of ChatGPT (https://chat.openai.com/) to refine the academic language and accuracy of my own work. I submitted my entire essay and entered the following prompts on 7 April 2025: "Improve the academic tone and accuracy of language, including grammatical structures, punctuation, and vocabulary."
The original output was adapted and modified for the final response. A copy of my original essay and a copy of the original output are attached with my assignment.
From Artificial Intelligence: A Guide for Students (Camosun College).
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