Library Guides: Citing Sources: Citations and Artificial Intelligence

Citing AI in Journals

Recommendations on use of AI are rapidly evolving, If you are planning on using AI in a journal submission, please consult individual journals for the most accurate and up to date information on their policies.

Using and Citing AI in Assignments

Do	Don't
Check with your Instructor to ensure the use of AI is permitted on your assignment.	Assume that using AI is permitted. The guidelines will vary from class to class and assignment to assignment.
Explore the strengths and limitations of AI prior to using it.	Blindly trust that AI tools will benefit you and your work.
Verify all information provided by AI. Never rely solely on the information AI provides.	Trust that the information provided by AI is accurate or true. AI models are only as good as the information they have been trained on. They may provide false information or produce false citations based on their training data.
Keep a record of all interactions and screen capture your chats, note how you used the AI tool(s), and cite the AI as you would a conversation.	Treat information provided by AI as static, reproducible, and recoverable. Even with the same input, the output from AI systems can vary.

I have an example of ChatGPT's inconsistent responses below, as well as the explanation it provides for this discrepancy. On June 16th, 2023 I provided ChatGPT the same prompt three times, "If I were to ask the same question several times, would you provide the same answer?", each answer was slightly different.

User: "If I were to ask the same question several times, would you provide the same answer?"

ChatGPT: "As an AI language model, my responses are generated based on patterns and examples from the training data I have been provided. While I strive to be consistent in providing accurate and reliable information, there can be slight variations in the responses I generate for the same question. Factors such as the context of the conversation, the phrasing of the question, and the specific details mentioned in the conversation may influence the variations in my responses. However, I aim to provide helpful and relevant information in each interaction."

User: "If I were to ask the same question several times, would you provide the same answer?"

ChatGPT: "If you were to ask the exact same question multiple times, I would provide the same answer, assuming all other factors remain constant. As an AI language model, my responses are determined by the patterns and examples in the training data, so given the same input, I would generate the same output. However, it's worth noting that if there is any randomness or variability in the model's behavior or response generation, asking the same question multiple times might result in slightly different answers due to that inherent randomness."

User: "If I were to ask the same question several times, would you provide the same answer?"

ChatGPT: "As an AI language model, if you ask the same question several times, there is a possibility that I may provide different answers for each instance. While I strive to be consistent and provide accurate information, my responses are generated based on a combination of trained data, patterns, and statistical probabilities. Additionally, the model has a random component that introduces variation in the output. Therefore, even with the same input, the model may generate slightly different responses. It's important to note that these variations can occur due to the inherent nature of language models and the underlying algorithms used for response generation."

Citing AI in IEEE Style

For publication in IEEE journals, use IEEE Guidelines on Artificial Intelligence (AI)-Generated Text

"The use of artificial intelligence (AI)–generated text in an article shall be disclosed in the acknowledgements section of any paper submitted to an IEEE Conference or Periodical. The sections of the paper that use AI-generated text shall have a citation to the AI system used to generate the text."

Beyond the above guidelines for publication in IEEE journals which note that AI should be cited, IEEE does not currently provide specific guidance on citing AI. For now, we recommend you use the guidelines for unpublished references-private communication. Additionally as this is non-recoverable information, a citation is not sufficient, also note how you used the tool.

Example:

When ChatGPT was prompted with "If I were to ask the same question several times, would you provide the same answer?" ChatGPT indicated that it may not provide consistent responses from inherent randomness in its underlying algorithms [1].

[1] Open-AI ChatGPT, private communication, 16 June, 2023.

Citing AI in Chicago Style

For the most up to date information see the Chicago Manual of Style Guidelines on Citing AI

These recommendations specify: "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." Chicago Manual of Style also recommends you include the prompt and state if you edited the output [e.g. "edited for style and content"] which you can do in either a note or in the text. Furthermore, at your discretion you may or may not include the URL in the note as the information is non-recoverable. If you are using author-date parenthetical citations instead of notes, include any information not in the text in the parentheses. For Example: (ChatGPT, June 19, 2023).

Example with Prompt Included in Text and URL:

When ChatGPT was prompted with "If I were to ask the same question several times, would you provide the same answer?" ChatGPT responded "the model has a random component that introduces variation in the output; therefore, even with the same input, the model may generate slightly different responses"¹.

1. Text generated by ChatGPT, edited for style and content, June 16, 2023, OpenAI, https://chat.openai.com/chat.

Example with Prompt Included in Note without URL:

ChatGPT "has a random component that introduces variation in the output; therefore, even with the same input, the model may generate slightly different responses"¹.

1. ChatGPT, response to "If I were to ask the same question several times, would you provide the same answer?," edited for style and content, June 16, 2023, OpenAI.

Citing AI in APA Style

APA provides guidelines on citing AI

APA recommends you note how you used the AI tool and "credit the author of the algorithm with a reference list entry and the corresponding in-text citation." Further, APA states that you may consider including the full correspondence in an appendix.

Example without Appendix:

Reference

OpenAI. (2023). ChatGPT (June 16 version) [Large language model].

Example with Appendix:

Reference

OpenAI. (2023). ChatGPT (June 16 version) [Large language model].

Citing AI in MLA Style

For the most current and complete recommendations, please visit How do I cite generative AI in MLA style?

MLA Recommends you DON'T

Treat the AI tool as an author

MLA Recommends you DO

Treat the Title of Source as a description of of what was generated which may include information about the prompt, if not included in the body of the text
Use the Title of Container field to name the AI tool including version to the most granular level available, this may be the version date rather than version number
Use the Publisher field to name the company that made the AI tool
Use the Date field to provide the date the content was created
Use the Location field to provide a general URL for the tool

Example of MLA with a quote:

ChatGPT "has a random component that introduces variation in the output; therefore, even with the same input, the model may generate slightly different responses"("If I were to ask the same question").

Works Cited

"If I were to ask the same question, would you provide the same answer?" prompt. ChatGPT 30 Nov. 2022 version, OpenAI, 16 June 2023, chat.openai.com/chat.