How to Cite Generative A.I. Tools
Students: Be sure your use of Generative A.I. tools does not violate your instructors’ stated guidelines or the university’s academic integrity policies.
Because citation guidelines vary by citation style (and change as technologies evolve), we recommend that you keep track of the following information when using Generative A.I. for scholarly work so you can provide the necessary details regardless of citation style:
- Tool name and version (e.g., ChatGPT 5.0 or Firefly Image 3 Model)
- Time and date of A.I. usage
- Prompt or query used
- Name of person querying
- The AI’s response to the query
- Follow-up queries and responses
- Optional but recommended: Screenshots of your chat. These can be useful visual aids on digital projects. They can also be helpful records of your Generative A.I. use should you ever need to provide them.
Most Recent Citation Guidelines (Updated Aug. 2025)
Recommendations for citing Generative A.I. depend on the discipline, class, and instructor. We recommend students check with their instructor for exact citation specifications (and to ensure their use of Generative A.I. is acceptable).
“Citing Content Developed or Generated by Artificial Intelligence” (Chicago Manual of Style Online)
“How Do You Cite Images Generated by DALL·E?” (Chicago Manual of Style Online)
“How Do I Cite Generative A.I. in MLA Style?” (MLA Style Center, Updated Aug. 2025)
See “Example 3: Citing Creative Visual Works” for a sample citation.
“How to Cite ChatGPT”
(APA Style Team)
“Image Generated by an A.I. Tool” (Seneca College). Go to tab titled “Image Generated by A.I. Tool.”
Note: Copyright laws surrounding A.I.-generated works are still being developed and interpreted.
In many cases, it remains unclear who holds the copyright for these creations (even if you created the image yourself using generative A.I.). Remember to give credit to the source of the A.I.-generated image or artwork; acknowledging the technology’s role in the creative process is crucial. As with traditional images, always use caution when using an image you did not create yourself. When in doubt, ask permission from the original creator to use the image (or use another image).
We will update these resources as the legal landscape continues to evolve.