Artificial Intelligence: Citing AI
This citation and referencing advice should be used only when your module coordinator or School allows the use of AI tools in the creation of academic assignments. If you have used an AI tool in the creation of an assignment, you must acknowledge this use and cite and reference the tool appropriately to ensure you are adhering to UCD's Academic Integrity Policy (see the Student Conduct website for this policy).
Advice about citing and referencing AI tools is constantly evolving, and this guide updated on 24 March 2025, will continue to be updated as further information becomes available.
For the purposes of this guidance, generative AI is defined as per Article 3(1) of the EU AI Act:
“‘AI system’ means a machine-based system that is designed to operate with varying levels of autonomy and that may exhibit adaptiveness after deployment, and that, for explicit or implicit objectives, infers, from the input it receives, how to generate outputs such as predictions, content, recommendations, or decisions that can influence physical or virtual environments" (2024).
Generative AI often provides citations and sources that do not exist, or are inaccurate. Citations may also be inaccurate or missing appropriate notation within the text. All such references must be checked by the user to ensure the legitimacy of the references/citations provided by AI tools.
For general advice on citation and referencing please refer to our Academic Integrity guide.
References (Harvard):
How to cite Generative AI
Guidance:
According to the APA Style Blog, quoting text from a chat session with a generative AI tool is “like sharing an algorithm’s output; thus, credit the author of the algorithm with a reference list entry and the corresponding in-text citation (...).You may also put the full text of long responses from [the generative AI tool] in an appendix of your paper or in online supplemental materials, so readers have access to the exact text that was generated.” (McAdoo, 2023)
Since the output of a chat session with a generative AI tool is not retrievable by other readers, you should include it in an appendix, and refer readers to this appendix when you cite the AI-generated text (Southern Cross University Library, 2023)
In-Text Citation:
Narrative citation: Company (Year) or Company (Year; see Appendix A for the full transcript)
Parenthetical citation: (Company, Year) or (Company, Year; see Appendix A for the full transcript)
Examples:
When using OpenAI (2023; see Appendix A for the full transcript) to complete the prompt “Summarise 3 main points from the article “The Role of Librarians in Academic Success” by Claudia J. Dold”, the most recurring ideas were the following: librarians are teachers of information and literacy skills, internal and external collaborators, and scholars within their field.
Archery has been used since the Paelolithic Era to aid in hunting and protection. Since this sport was important to many regions around the world, it became a sport recognized by the Olympics and debuted in the 1900s games, and later became a permanent sport in 1972 (OpenAI, 2023).
When including the full text of the Chat interaction in an appendix to record the details of the prompt response (particularly important as each interaction with the same prompt is likely to generate a new and unique response), make a notation as below.
One relevant perspective is the concept of "ideology" or "rhetoric" in relation to dictators and authoritarian leaders. According to this view, leaders use propaganda, manipulation, and control over discourse to justify their actions, maintain their power, and suppress dissent (OpenAI, 2025; See Appendix C for the full transcript).
While you are required to acknowledge AI generated images in your work, there is currently (March 2025) no definitive guidance for citing them. The general consensus recommends the use of a figure number and title above the image, with a note of the image details below. It is also recommended that the word 'Note' appear in italics (see Figure 1).
Reference:
Company. (Year accessed). Program (Month Day version) [Large language model]. URL
The month and day used in this citation style will be the date you accessed/used the resource.
Example:
OpenAI. (2023). ChatGPT (May 18 version) [Large language model]. https://chat.openai.com/chat.
Stability.ai (2025) Stable Diffusion (3.5) [AI image generator]. https://stablediffusionweb.com/
References:
McAdoo, T. (2023, April 7). How to cite ChatGPT. APA Style, https://apastyle.apa.org/blog/how-to-cite-chatgpt
American Psychological Association. (2020). Publication manual of the American Psychological Association (7th ed.). https://doi.org/10.1037/0000165-000
Guidance:
The Chicago Manual of Style Online FAQ section has this advice on citing content generated by artificial intelligence tools such as ChatGPT: "[...] you must credit ChatGPT when you reproduce its words within your own work, but unless you include a publicly available URL, that information should be put in the text or in a note—not in a bibliography or reference list. Other AI-generated text can be cited similarly."¹
The Chicago Manual of Style's guidance specifies that AI-generated content should not be included in bilbiographies or reference lists unless a publicly available link to the chat can be provided, for instance by using browser plugins. For this reason, the advice below focuses on in-text/ footnote citations.
In-Text Citation:
Use a superscript number (like this: ¹) in the text at the place where you are indicating that you are citing from a source.
Footnote - Prompt within the text: 1.Text generated by Program, Month Day, Year used, Company, https://chat.openai.com/chat.
Footnote - No prompt within the text: 2. Program, response to “prompt,” Month Day, Year used, Company.
Example - Prompt within the text:
The following information was collected by ChatGPT using the prompt Do all caterpillars turn into butterflies?: "While the majority of caterpillars turn into butterflies, there is an exception - moths. The metamorphosis process can result in either a butterfly or a moth, depending on the caterpillar species."¹
1. Text generated by ChatGPT, May 18, 2023, OpenAI, https://chat.openai.com/chat.
Example - No prompt within text:
"Not all Canadian Geese participate in a seasonal migration pattern. Those located within urban locations or in a region with favourable conditions year round, will become permanent residents of the region. Those who do migrate will follow flyway routes - well-established migration routes that connect their breeding grounds in the North and their wintering locations in the South."²
2. ChatGPT, response to “Explain the migration pattern of Canadian Geese,” May 18, 2023, OpenAI.
Example - Image reference (See Fig. 1 above.)
3. Gemini, "3D map of the windy city complete with notable landmarks popping out from the image," image, 2025.
References:
Guidance:
When referencing AI-generated text in Harvard UCD, you should credit the creator of the AI tool as the author, using both an in-text citation and a reference list entry. If a shareable URL is available, please include it in the reference list entry. In the absence of a shareable URL, include the chat session with the AI tool as an appendix and refer readers to this appendix when citing the AI-generated text. For further information on shareable URLs for AI-generated content, please read the advice below.
In-text citation:
Narrative citation: OpenAI (2023)
Parenthetical citation: (OpenAI 2023)
Examples:
The main negative impacts of private renting, according to OpenAI's response to the prompt "What are the socio-economic impacts of private renting?" (2023) include housing insecurity, rising rent costs and wealth inequality.
It's important to note that the socio-economic impacts of private renting can vary widely from one location to another and depend on various factors, including government policies, the state of the local housing market, and the legal rights and protections afforded to renters. (Open AI 2023)
Midjourney is capable of mimicking the style of many well known artists as seen in the image, Peacock in the style of Gustav Klimt (Midjourney Inc., 2025)
Reference:
Some AI tools such as ChatGPT and Gemini generate shareable URLs that allow other readers to see the content of chat sessions with them. There are also browser plugins such as A.I. Archives which generate shareable URLs for chat sessions.
Format for references with shareable URL generated by the AI Tool:
Name of AI (Year). Medium of Communication, Receiver of communication, Day, Month of communication. Available at: URL
Format for references without shareable URL:
Reference: Name of AI (Year). Medium of communication, Receiver of communication, Day Month of communication.
When using an AI generated image within the body of your work, you should provide sufficient details to properly acknowledge the image source and include full details in your reference list.
Format for AI generated Images:
Creator (Year) Title of work [Medium]. Available at: URL (Accessed: date).
Examples:
OpenAI ChatGPT (2023) ChatGPT response to Jane Doe 20 October. Available at: https://chat.openai.com/share/
OpenAI ChatGPT (2023) ChatGPT response to Jane Doe, 20 October.
Midjourney Inc. (2025) Peacock in the style of Gustav Klimt [Digital Art]. Available at: https://cdn.midjourney.com/fa846dc2-995f-4240-bfd9-b9c4eb3b666e/0_2.png (Accessed: 14 February 2025)
Guidance:
As of the creation of this guide the editors of the MHRA citation style have not yet published guidance for citing generative AI. In the absence of guidance from the editors, UCD Library recommends treating the use of generative AI in the same manner as for citing private communications.
Example for Citing Generative AI with MHRA Style
Private communications are included as in-text citations with numbered footnotes. Inclusion in the list of references is not required.
Example:
In an era when literacy was limited, complex illuminations played a pedagogical role. They helped illiterate or semi-literate individuals understand and remember the contents of the manuscript. Images and visual cues were used to convey the narratives and teachings within the text, making it accessible to a broader audience.1
Guidance:
According to the MLA Style Center, the use of AI to find sources does not need to be cited. Instead, cite the resource being quoted. Since AI was the tool used to get to the destination, it does not need to be included.
You will need to cite AI if you paraphrase or quote ideas/sentences formulated with generative AI.
The MLA style guide does not recommend citing the AI tool as an author, instead use the prompt as the primary element of your reference (a generalisation of the prompt where the conversation is lengthy can be used where numerous prompts may have been given). In text citations can use a shortened version of the prompt given and do not include the date consulted.
In-Text-Citation:
- ("prompt”).
Example:
- Symbols are often used in writing to describe exactly what the author intends without using overused metaphors. In Romeo and Juliet, the rose is used as a method of expression to show the fragility, love, and beauty of human emotions (“Describe the importance”).
Citing AI generated Images:
If you are incorporating an AI-generated image in your work, you will need to create a caption for it following the guidelines in section 1.7 of the MLA Handbook. Use a description of the prompt, followed by the AI tool, version, and date created (MLA Style Center, Example 3: Citing Creative Visual Works).
Examples:
- Fig. 1. "An image of a theatre production in Elizabethan period costume" prompt, DALL-E, version 3, OpenAI, 19 Mar. 2025, https://chatgpt.com/share/67dacc6c-e828-8005-803b-b250fd5b496a.
You can use this same information if you choose to create a works-cited-list entry instead of including the full citation in the caption (MLA Style Center, Example 3: Citing Creative Visual Works).
- Fig. 1. DALL-E generated image of a theatre production in Elizabethan period costume.
References:
“Prompt given” prompt. Program Used, Day and Month of updated version*. version #, company (ex OpenAI), date accessed.
*You can find the updated version of ChatGPT below the textbox
Example:
“Describe the importance and the symbolism of the rose in the play Romeo and Juliet by Shakespeare” prompt. version 3.5, OpenAI, 19 Mar. 2025, https://chatgpt.com/share/67dadd2b-29c4-8005-981c-dd2c6f2671de
Image Example:
"An image of a theatre production in Elizabethan period costume" prompt, DALL-E, version 3, OpenAI, 19 Mar. 2025, https://chatgpt.com/share/67dacc6c-e828-8005-803b-b250fd5b496a.
References:
Guidance:
As of the creation of this guide the editors of the OSCOLA citation style have not yet published guidance for citing generative AI. In the absence of guidance from the editors, UCD Library recommends treating the use of generative AI in the same manner as for citing a personal communication.
Examples for Citing Generative AI with OSCOLA Style
Conversation with ChatGPT. (19 October 2023)
Guidance:
As of the creation of this guide there is no published guidance for citing generative AI in the Vancouver style. In the absence of authoritative guidance, UCD Library recommends treating the use of generative AI in the same manner as for citing an email communication or interviews.
The International Community of Medical Journal Editors (ICMJE) specify that AI tools are not to be treated as authors: "Chatbots (such as ChatGPT) should not be listed as authors because they cannot be responsible for the accuracy, integrity, and originality of the work, and these responsibilities are required for authorship."1
In-Text Citation:
In-text-citations are represented with a superscript numeric notation that corresponds to the item in your list of references.
Example:
Bevacizumab (Avastin) is an example of a targeted therapy that may be used to disrupt the tumor's blood supply. Other targeted therapies are being researched, but their efficacy remains limited.1
Image Citation:
In lieu of definitive guidance, it is recommended that AI generated images be credited in the figure caption (as shown in Figure 1.) and referenced in the same manner as for text-based references (see below).
Reference:
As of October 20th 2023, some AI tools such as chatGPT and Bard generate shareable URLs that allow other readers to see the content of chat sessions with them. There are also browser plugins such as A.I. Archives which also generates shareable URLs for chat sessions.
Example with shareable URL generated by the AI Tool:
#. Name of AI Tool [type of medium]. Creator of tool; version date. [Accessed YYYY Month DD]. URL
1. ChatGPT. [Online conversation]. OpenAI; 2023. [cited 2023 October 19]. https://chat.openai.com/share/a5ae4acb-41a2-482d-8a97-1e07e59fcad5
Example without shareable URL:
#. Name of AI Tool [type of medium]. Creator of tool; version date. [Accessed YYYY Month DD]. See Appendix for text and prompt used.
1. ChatGPT. [Online conversation]. OpenAI; 2023. [cited 2023 October 19]. See Appendix for text generated and prompt used.
Example for AI generated images:
#. Name of AI Tool [type of medium]. Creator of tool; version date. [Accessed YYYY Month DD]. URL
2. Gemini. [image generation]. Google; 2025.[Accessed 2025 March 20]. https://gemini.google.com/app/a1a1a8faaf696475?hl=en-IN
References:
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 International License