Read MLA's guidance on citing generative AI.
MLA does not treat the generative AI as an author. Instead, start your citation with the text of the prompt you gave in quotation marks, followed by the word prompt.
"Insert the text of your prompt” prompt. Generative AI Tool, Day Month version, Company that owns the AI, Day Month Year, link to the AI.
Reference: "What are examples of bias in algorithms?" prompt. ChatGPT, 25 Sep. version, OpenAI, 3 Oct. 2023, chat.openai.com/chat.
In-Text: ("What are examples")
Read APA's guidance on citing generative AI.
APA treats referencing generative AI like citing an algorithm and does not ask for the prompt. However, APA recommends, if applicable, to mention the prompt in the body of the paper and attach an appendix with the transcription of the exchange with the AI.
OpenAI. (2023). ChatGPT (Mar 14 version) [Large language model]. https://chat.openai.com/chat
Reference: OpenAI. (2023). ChatGPT (Sep 27 version) [Large language model]. https://chat.openai.com/chat
In-text: (OpenAI, 2023)
Read Chicago Style's guidance on citing generative AI.
Chicago treats the generative AI as the author, and the company that developed the AI as the publisher/sponsor. Chicago recommends citing AI in a footnote or parenthetical in-text citation, but not in the bibliography of your paper (see CMOS 14.112) For Notes-Bibliography, if the prompt is not included in the text it may be added to the note.
If you do cite an AI exchange in a bibliography, it should be cited by listing the "publisher" or developer, not the name of the tool, and include a publicly available URL. If you cannot provide a publicly available link, such as ShareGPT or A.I. Archives, then Chicago advises not to include it in the bibliography or reference list.
Footnote: 1. Text generated by specific generative AI, Company that owns the AI, Month Day, Year, link to AI website.
Author-Date: (AI, Day Month, Year)
Bibliography (NB): Publisher/Developer. Response to "text prompt." Name of AI tool, Month Day, Year. Link.
Reference List (Author-Date): Publisher/Developer. Month Day, Year. Response to "text prompt." Name of AI tool, Link.
Footnote: 1. Text generated by ChatGPT, OpenAI, October 1, 2024, https://chatgpt.com/share/67195a14-973c-8010-b421-0b0d8adcfec1.
If you did not list the text prompt in the body of your paper, then construct the footnote as follows:
Footnote: 1. ChatGPT, response to “Tell me about biases in algorithms,” OpenAI, October 1, 2024.
Author-Date parenthetical citation: (ChatGPT, October 1, 2024)
Bibliography (NB): OpenAI. Response to "Tell me about biases in algorithms." ChatGPT, October 1, 2024. https://chatgpt.com/share/67195a14-973c-8010-b421-0b0d8adcfec1
Reference List (Author-Date): OpenAI. October 1, 2024. Response to "Tell me about biases in algorithms." ChatGPT, https://chatgpt.com/share/67195a14-973c-8010-b421-0b0d8adcfec1.
While CSE hasn't issued explicit guidance on citing AI, in a discussion on utilizing AI and journal submissions, the CSE editors state that AI should not be listed as an author. Like other styles, it can therefore be considered as a personal communication. Personal communications are generally included only in in-text citations, not reference lists, but a Notes section can include additional details about the communication (see CSE 29.3.15.3).
In-Text: (date type of communication)
In-Text: (2024 ChatGPT response to prompt from author)
The way that the citation styles ask you to format the information might be a little different, but they do want you to be able to list the version that you used in the citation! Here is a quick guide to finding the version information for ChatGPT and Gemini (formerly known as Bard):
OpenAI has stopped publishing the version number at the bottom of the screen. Instead, click on the question mark in the bottom right corner of the screen, then select Release Notes
Then scroll through the release notes to view the last version update.
If you are not logged in with an account, however, the version number may be displayed in the top left hand corner of the screen. You will still need to click through to the Release Notes in order to view the date that the version was released.
The version will be located by first clicking on the question mark icon in the upper right hand corner of the screen, then selecting Updates from the menu that appears. This will open a new page that will list the current version of Gemini first at the top of the list of versions.
