Generative AI

Can I use generative AI for referencing?

Generative AI tools can be asked to provide references or citations – however these are often created based simply on what would look like a valid reference. If you ask an AI tool to provide a list of references or readings, the list it provides may not be real.

How do I reference something created by generative AI

Chicago currently recommend that you base the reference for generative AI content on the referencing guidance for

• Personal communication

However, they acknowledge that this is an evolving topic and they do not have all the answers as yet.

Generative AI tools like ChatGPT cannot accurately cite their own sources. Any references they provide may be false or non-existent – you should always check the original source for any references that are generated.

References should provide clear and accurate information for each source and should identify where they have been used in your work.

Acknowledgement

Where you have used generative AI to assist you with your assignment, you usually should acknowledge this. An acknowledgement might look something like this:

In other cases it may be more appropriate to acknowledge your use of generative AI tools in a way more akin to a “methods” section of a research paper:

This information is based on https://guides.library.uq.edu.au/referencing/chatgpt-and-generative-ai-tools. 

More information about generative artificial intelligence can be found: