Both APA and MLA have published standards for citing AI generated content. Academic and professional organizations, however, continue to debate the need for new methods better suited to the unique nature of AI. As a faculty member, unless your division has selected a specific standard, the method of citation is your decision. For information on emerging citation styles, contact a Molstead Librarian.
The citation styles for AI generated content are subject to change. To ensure that you are following the most current guidelines from APA or MLA check their websites. Even better, stop by, or make an appointment with, the NIC Writing Center. Writing Center staff are citation-style experts and keep up with the latest changes to both APA and MLA.
Molstead Library is a great place to conduct research and find perfect sources for your papers! For assistance in writing your research papers in the proper format, please visit the NIC Writing Center.
(Guidelines and examples are quoted directly from: https://apastyle.apa.org/blog/how-to-cite-chatgpt.)
Guidelines
APA reference format: OpenAI. (Year). ChatGPT (Month Day version) [Large language model]. https://chat.openai.com
APA in-text citation: (OpenAI, Year)
Example 1 from APA Guideline
When prompted with “Is the left brain right brain divide real or a metaphor?” the ChatGPT-generated text indicated that although the two brain hemispheres are somewhat specialized, “the notation that people can be characterized as ‘left-brained’ or ‘right-brained’ is considered to be an oversimplification and a popular myth” (OpenAI, 2023).
Reference
OpenAI. (2023). ChatGPT (Mar 14 version) [Large language model]. https://chat.openai.com/chat
Example 2 from APA Guideline
When given a follow-up prompt of “What is a more accurate representation?” the ChatGPT-generated text indicated that “different brain regions work together to support various cognitive processes” and “the functional specialization of different regions can change in response to experience and environmental factors” (OpenAI, 2023; see Appendix A for the full transcript).
Reference
OpenAI. (2023). ChatGPT (Mar 14 version) [Large language model]. https://chat.openai.com/chat
(Guidelines and examples are adapted or quoted directly from: https://style.mla.org/citing-generative-ai/.)
MLA continues to rely on its Template of Core Elements when creating a citation for AI generated content. MLA's approach is intended to allow writers flexibility when creating citations for emerging information sources (MLA Style Center).
Guidelines:
MLA In-Text format: Describe what was generated by the AI tool. This may involve including information about the prompt in the Title of Source element if you have not done so in the text.
MLA Works-Cited-List format: “Text of prompt” prompt. ChatGPT, Day Month version, OpenAI, Day Month Year, chat.openai.com.
MLA example:
Prompt: Describe the symbolism of the green light in the book The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald.
In-text citation of paraphrased AI-generated response: While the green light in The Great Gatsby might be said to chiefly symbolize four main things: optimism, the unattainability of the American dream, greed, and covetousness (“Describe the symbolism”), arguably the most important—the one that ties all four themes together—is greed.
Works-Cited-List Entry:
“Describe the symbolism of the green light in the book The Great Gatsby by F. Scott
Fitzgerald” prompt. ChatGPT, 13 Feb. version, OpenAI, 8 Mar. 2023,
chat.openai.com/chat.