Q. Do I need to cite ChatGPT in my paper?

You should acknowledge the content you include in your work that was produced by AI generators. Each citation style has different rules for how to treat such content. Below are links to the full guidance on creating citations and in-text citations for AI-generated content in APA style, Chicago style and MLA style. 

APA 

Full guidance from APA Style

Highlights from the guidance:

• Credit the author of the algorithm with a reference list entry and the corresponding in-text citation
• Put the full text of long responses from ChatGPT in an appendix of your paper or in online supplemental materials so readers can access the exact text generated. In your text, call out the appendix (e.g., "see Appendix A")

Sample Citation Format:

OpenAI. (2023). ChatGPT (Mar 14 version) [Large language model]. https://chat.openai.com/chat

MLA 

Full Guidance from MLA Style

Highlights from the guidance:

• Cite a generative AI tool whenever you paraphrase, quote, or incorporate into your own work any content (whether text, image, data, or other) that was created by it 
• Acknowledge all functional uses of the tool (like editing your prose or translating words) in a note, your text, or another suitable location 
• Take care to vet the secondary sources it cites 
• For creative visual works / images generated by AI: use a description of the prompt, followed by the AI tool, version, and date created

Sample Citation Format:

“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.

Chicago

Full Guidance from Chicago Style

Highlights from the guidance:

• You must credit ChatGPT when you reproduce its words within your own work, but 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.
• If you’ve edited the AI-generated text, you should say so in the text or at the end of the note (e.g., “edited for style and content”)

• Include the prompt you used in the text of your work, or it can be included in the note.

Sample Notes Format:

1. Text generated by ChatGPT, OpenAI, March 7, 2023, https://chat.openai.com/chat.

1. ChatGPT, response to “Explain how to make pizza dough from common household ingredients,” OpenAI, March 7, 2023.

Helpful Tips

Citations also allow your readers to locate and verify the sources you have used and to follow the scholarly conversation around a particular topic. Because ChatGPT provides different responses to the same prompt, it is helpful to include the full response generated for you in an appendix or in a Google Doc/Word Online document that you can link to, helping your readers get to the original content you are citing. 

Academic Integrity 

UAlbany students are expected to be familiar with the Undergraduate Academic Integrity Policy and the Graduate Standards of Academic Integrity. Connect with your professor to learn how and if you can appropriately use AI-generated content in your work. 

Further Guidance

Please see our Citation Guide: Citing Generative AI for further guidance and more information.