Citing Sources

Ask Your Instructor

Before using and citing generative AI, consult your syllabus and/or check with your instructor regarding any AI policies first. Your instructor might welcome AI use, might specify limitations, or might prefer that you not use it. They might also ask you to provide a list of the prompts you used, a complete transcript of your AI interaction, or a summary of how you used AI in your work.

Why can't the AI tool produce the citation for me?

AI tools typically provide incorrect and incomplete information when asked how to cite conversations with them in a particular citation style. Instead, consult this guide, your instructor, or your department's librarian for guidance on citing AI tools.

Just like for other resources, you need to provide a citation whenever you quote, paraphrase, or summarize the results produced by generative AI. Examples of generative AI tools include ChatGPT, Claude, Copilot, Gemini, and Perplexity.

Citation styles might require you to provide version information, which could be a model name/number and/or a version release or update date, and the name of the creator of the AI tool. This information isn't always obvious, so here are some places to check:

• The AI tool itself, for example at the bottom of the chat box.
• A question mark icon, typically in the lower right corner of the screen on the AI tool page. 
• Pages labeled "Release Notes," "News," or "Announcements."
• The AI tool app's settings menu on a mobile device (sometimes represented by a gear icon or three dots).  
• A Google search, for example for the name of the AI tool plus the keywords "current version" or "creator."

If you need help with identifying this information, contact your department's librarian.

For more detailed information on citing AI tools in APA style, visit APA's How to cite ChatGPT page.

Template

Creator of AI Tool. (Date version was released in YYYY format). Name Of Tool (Version information) [Large language model]. AI tool URL

Examples

OpenAI. (2024). ChatGPT (Apr 29 version) [Large language model]. https://chat.openai.com/chat

Anthropic. (2024). Claude (3 Sonnet version) [Large language model]. https://claude.ai/chats

For more detailed information on citing AI tools in Chicago style, visit the Chicago Manual of Style's AI FAQ answer. 

AI tools are not included in the reference list in Chicago style, only as in-text parenthetical citations. If components of the citation, such as the Name of the AI Tool or the text of the prompt you used, are included in your text, you can omit them from the parenthetical citation

Template

(Name of AI Tool, response created by "text of the prompt you used," Creator of AI Tool, date cited content was generated)

Examples

(ChatGPT, response created by "Explain the sustainability challenges of AI tools," OpenAI, June 10, 2024)

(Claude, response created by "Explain the sustainability challenges of AI tools," Anthropic, June 10, 2024)

For more detailed information on citing AI tools in Chicago style, visit the Chicago Manual of Style's AI FAQ answer. 

AI tools are not included in the bibliography in Chicago style, only as footnotes.

Template

Name of AI Tool, response created by "text of the prompt you used," Creator of AI Tool, date cited content was generated.

Examples

ChatGPT, response created by "Explain the sustainability challenges of AI tools," OpenAI, June 10, 2024.

Claude, response created by "Explain the sustainability challenges of AI tools," Anthropic, June 10, 2024.

For more detailed information on citing AI tools in MLA, visit MLA's How do I cite generative AI in MLA style? page.

Template

"Text of the prompt you used" prompt. Name of AI Tool, Version Information, Creator of AI Tool, date cited content was generated, AI tool URL.

Examples

"Explain the sustainability challenges of AI tools" prompt. ChatGPT, 29 Apr. version, OpenAI, 10 June 2024, https://chat.openai.com/chat.

"Explain the sustainability challenges of AI tools" prompt. Claude, 3 Sonnet version, Anthropic, 10 June 2024, https://claude.ai/chats.

Visit our Other Citation Styles page for links to additional citation style guides. If you don't see anything about citing AI in the linked guides, contact your department's librarian for assistance.