Generative AI is giving you an answer based on some source that exists out there in the world. Instead of using the information that the AI gives you directly, ask it for its source or use its answer to find the original source of the information. This is the same thing as when you read a quote in a book or article from another author. Don't quote the person quoting the source; go and find that original source and cite that.
References tell your reader where your information came from and how you used it in your work. If you use content created by a tool like ChatGPT, including it in your works cited - as you would with any other source - is the responsible thing to do. If you use ChatGPT to help write or structure your paper, even if you do not otherwise quote or paraphrase its content, you will likely wish to acknowledge your use of it in some manner. This provides transparency to your reader.
If you try to use ChatGPT to find sources for you, it might generate false citations. The text generated is based on the most likely information based on the prompt. This could lead to hallucinations. For examples of AI hallucinations or ghost citations check the guide created by the University of Maryland.
Depending on the style of citation your class, field, or instructor is using, you may be citing ChatGPT differently or not at all. This list is not exhaustive, so be aware that there are many more styles of citations than the ones shown here.
In March 2023, MLA provided guidance for citing responses from ChatGPT or output from another generative AI tool.
"Description of chat" prompt. Name of AI tool, version of AI tool, Company, Date of chat, URL.
"Examples of harm reduction initiatives" prompt. ChatGPT, 23 Mar. version, OpenAI, 4 Mar. 2023, chat.openai.com/chat.
("Examples of harm reduction")
If you create a shareable link to the chat transcript, include that instead of the tool's URL.
MLA also recommends acknowledging when you used the tool in a note or your text as well as verifying any sources or citations the tool supplies.
As of 17 March 2023
In April 2023, APA provided guidance for citing responses from ChatGPT or output from another generative AI tool.
Include a description of the prompt when quoting output from a generative AI tool in your paper. Use the author of the AI algorithm - or the company who produced the tool - in both the in-text citation and full reference. It may be worthwhile to include the chat's transcript as an appendix to your project.
Author. (Date). Name of tool (Version of tool) [Large language model]. URL
OpenAI. (2023). ChatGPT (Mar 14 version) [Large language model]. https://chat.openai.com/chat
(OpenAI, 2023)
As of 7 April 2023
AI, ChatGPT, and the Library Libguide by Amy Scheelke for Salt Lake Community College, is licensed CC BY-NC 4.0, except where otherwise noted.
