Citation Styles
Citing Generative AI Models
Before using generative AI in a course or research project, consult with your professor/instructor and the ASU Provost's Academic Integrity webpage.
If you are permitted to use generative AI and you reuse or paraphrase information from a generative AI program and/or use it to fine-tune your writing, you should acknowledge this fact.
Many citation styles are attempting to provide guidance as to whether and how ChatGPT and other generative artificial intelligence technologies should be cited. Just as these technologies are rapidly changing, you should anticipate that the citation guidance below may change. Be sure to check back regularly for any updates.
How to Cite Generative AI
Link to MLA citation guidance: https://style.mla.org/citing-generative-ai/
AMA prohibits the use of artificial intelligence or similar technologies/tools as authors. The JAMA Network policy requires authors to disclose any use of AI or similar tools in creating or editing their manuscripts. Include an acknowledgement after the reference list detailing how the AI tool was used
Follow AMA and NLM recommendations for citing personal communications or nonrecoverable unpublished sources (the prompt and response cannot be saved and shared with others; in addition, similar searches would generate different results for someone else). There is no entry in the reference list, but it can be cited in the text prudently. Details such as the AI tool, type of communication, and date can be included in parentheses or cited narratively.
In-text example:
Modern research tools lead to better results (OpenAI's ChatGPT, response to question from user, 10 March 2023).
In an online chat with ChatGPT (April 06, 2023) ...
In response to the question ..., ChatGPT (April 06, 2023) gave the following response ...
Reference list:
You do not need to include an entry in the reference list.
Acknowledgement (Appendix)
Include a record of each question/ prompt, the date, and the response in an appendix after the reference list.
Following IEEE's Guidelines on AI Generated Text, "The use of artificial intelligence (AI)–generated text in an article shall be disclosed in the acknowledgements section of any paper submitted to an IEEE Conference or Periodical. The sections of the paper that use AI-generated text shall have a citation to the AI system used to generate the text."
Many libraries are suggesting that the AI interaction be cited as a personal communication because it considered a non-recoverable source (the prompt and response cannot be saved and shared with others; similar searches would generate a different results for someone else). The artificial intelligence should be referenced in text but does not need to be included in a reference list.
In-text example:
Modern research tools lead to better results (OpenAI's ChatGPT, private communication, 10 March 2023).
Reference list:
You do not need to include an entry in the reference list.