How Do I Cite Generative AI?

The University of Chicago Press recommends that you cite ChatGPT and similar AI tools when you reproduce its words (quoted or paraphrased) and other content (e.g., images) within your own work.

• Chicago Style Q&A for 17th edition, includes two entries related to generative AI.
  • How do you recommend citing content developed or generated by artificial intelligence, such as ChatGPT? Many scholarly publishers are requiring its identification though also requiring human authors to take responsibility for it and will not permit the AI to have “authorship.” (posted March 2023, updated August 2023)
  • How do you cite images generated by DALL·E? (posted March 2023)

NOTE: The latest Chicago recommendations for citing generative AI have been published in the new Chicago Manual of Style, 18th edition.

If content (text, images, etc.) generated by AI tools is included in your work, you should cite the tool's usage in your text or in a note.

In-Text (based on Chicago, 17th ed.)

Examples:
The following instructions for fixing a flat bicycle tire were generated by ChatGPT.

Here's an image generated with artificial intelligence:

Fig. 8. "Cityscape at sunset in graffiti style," image generated by Microsoft Bing Image Creator, July 25, 2023.

Footnote or Endnote (based on Chicago, 17th ed.)

Examples:

• Number. Footnote or endnote number based on its sequence in the body of your text - 1.
• Author, Name of AI tool - ChatGPT,
• Publisher/Sponsor, Organization/Developer of AI tool - OpenAI,
• Date, Date content was generated, Month Day, Year - July 5, 2023,
• URL. Optional. Not considered an essential element of the citation, particularly when AI-generated content is not accessible (i.e., requires personal login or subscription). If included, use unique URL for shareable content or a general URL for inaccessible content - https://chat.openai.com/chat.

If the prompt hasn’t been included in the text, it can be included in the note as follows:

• Number. Footnote or endnote number based on its sequence in the body of your text - 2.
• Author, Name of AI tool - ChatGPT,
• Prompt (Title), response to “Text prompt in quotes,” - response to "Tell me how to fix a flat bicycle tire,"
• Publisher/Sponsor, Organization/Developer of AI tool - OpenAI,
• Date, Date content was generated, Month Day, Year - July 21, 2023,
• URL. Optional. Not considered an essential element of the citation, particularly when AI-generated content is not accessible (i.e., requires personal login or subscription). If included, use unique URL for shareable content or a general URL for inaccessible content - https://chat.openai.com/share/b139f195-93eb-447b-bc6d-2440a541ea71.

If you’ve edited AI-generated text, you should acknowledge this in your text or at the end of the note (e.g., edited for style and content).

Shortened Footnote or Endnote (based on Chicago, 17th ed.)

If the same reference is used again, the shortened form of the note should be used.

Example:

• Number. Footnote or endnote number based on its sequence in the body of your text - 3.
• Author, Name of AI tool -  ChatGPT,
• Prompt (Title), response to "Text prompt in quotes," - response to "Fix a flat bicycle tire,"
• Medium. - World Wide Web.

Author-Date Style (based on Chicago, 17th ed.)

If you’re using author-date style instead of notes, any information not provided in the text can be placed in a parenthetical text reference (see also CMOS 17:15.53)

Examples:

(ChatGPT, June 8, 2023).

(OpenAI's ChatGPT, response to prompt from author, February 22, 2023)

• Author, Name of AI tool -  ChatGPT,
• Prompt (Title), response to "Text prompt in quotes,"
• Date, Date content was generated, Month Day, Year

Chicago states that it is not necessary to cite generative AI tools in a bibliography or reference list, especially when a publicly available link is not available for the AI-generated content.

AI-generated Text (based on Chicago, 17th ed.)

If you are required or would like to include generative AI citations in your bibliography or reference list, consider citing ChatGPT and similar AI tools like a personal communication such as an email, phone, or text conversation (see also CMOS 17:14.214).

Example:

• Author. Name of AI tool - ChatGPT.
• Prompt (Title). Response to “Text prompt in quotes.” - Response to "Tell me how to fix a flat bicycle tire."
• Publisher/Sponsor. Organization/Developer of AI tool - OpenAI.
• Date. Date content was generated, Month Day, Year - July 21, 2023.
• URL. Publicly available link that points to the AI generated content - https://chat.openai.com/share/b139f195-93eb-447b-bc6d-2440a541ea71.

AI-generated Images (based on Chicago, 17th ed.)

The source of your images should be credited, including those generated by AI tools (see also CMOS 17:3.29-37). Images are not usually listed in a bibliography or reference list, but if included, consider using the following format for AI-generated images.

Example:

• Author. Name of AI tool - Bing Image Creator.
• Prompt (Title). Response to “Text prompt in quotes.” - Response to "Cityscape at sunset in graffiti style."
• Publisher/Sponsor. Organization/Developer of AI tool - Microsoft.
• Date. Date content was generated, Month Day, Year - July 25, 2023.
• URL. Publicly available link that points to the AI generated content- https://th.bing.com/th/id/OUG.AD8AD7A2204A36063901D2CDEE831B23?rs=1&pid=ImgDetMain.

NOTE: Colour added to citation elements for illustrative purposes - should not be included in actual references

Generative AI - Chicago (17th ed.) Citation Activity 1: True or False?

Generative AI - Chicago (17th ed.) Citation Activity 2: Build A Note