Citing AI-Generated Materials¶

ChatGPT created the following guideline from the query below on August 8, 2025.

correctly cite AI geneerated materials

ChatGPT said:
When citing AI-generated materials, the citation format can vary depending on the style guide you're following (e.g., APA, MLA, Chicago). Since AI is still relatively new in academic and professional citation, there’s not a universal standard yet, but here are some general guidelines for how to approach it.

1. APA (7th Edition)¶

APA recommends citing AI as a "personal communication" because, like personal communication, AI-generated content is not recoverable by others. However, since AI content is increasingly being used in academic and professional settings, you may need to mention the AI explicitly.

Here’s a basic citation structure for AI-generated content:

*In-text citation:

• (ChatGPT, personal communication, [date])

• Reference List:
  • ChatGPT. (Year, Month Date). Title of the content or description of the prompt used (Version). OpenAI. URL (if applicable)

Example:

• In-text: (ChatGPT, personal communication, August 8, 2025)
• Reference: ChatGPT. (2025, August 8). Generating citations for AI-created content. OpenAI. https://openai.com/chatgpt

2. MLA (9th Edition)¶

MLA style generally recommends treating AI-generated content similarly to software. Here’s how you might format it:

• In-text citation:
  • (ChatGPT)
• Works Cited:
  • "Title of the Content or Prompt Used." ChatGPT, version, OpenAI, Date of interaction, URL (if applicable).

Example:

• In-text: (ChatGPT)
• Works Cited: "Generating Citations for AI-Created Content." ChatGPT, OpenAI, 8 Aug. 2025, https://openai.com/chatgpt.

3. Chicago/Turabian Style¶

Chicago/Turabian generally requires a more descriptive citation when dealing with AI-generated content. You would reference the AI as the author and include the version and date of use.

• In-text citation:
  • (ChatGPT, August 8, 2025)
• Bibliography:
  • ChatGPT. Title of the content or description of the prompt used. OpenAI. Version. Date of use. URL (if applicable).

Example:

• In-text: (ChatGPT, August 8, 2025)
• Bibliography: ChatGPT. Generating Citations for AI-Created Content. OpenAI. Version. 8 Aug. 2025. https://openai.com/chatgpt.

Notes:¶

1. Version: If the AI model has specific versions (e.g., GPT-4, GPT-3.5), it’s often useful to note which version was used.
2. No direct author: Since AI is not an author in the traditional sense, some prefer citing the AI platform (e.g., OpenAI).
3. URLs: If your interaction with the AI was via a web interface or service, include the URL. If you are using an offline tool, that’s not necessary.

The most important thing is to follow the rules of consistency within your citation style and clarify that the content was AI-generated.