Skip to Main Content

Generative AI

Referencing 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

The Chicago Manual of Style Online currently recommends that you follow the referencing guidance for:

In Chicago style, AI-generated content:

  • must be acknowledged in-text or in a preface (see acknowledgement examples below)
  • not usually included in a bibliography unless there is a publicly available link (e.g. tools such as ShareGPT or A.I. Archives).

Acknowledgement

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

Whilst the writing is my own and I take responsibility for all errors, ChatGPT 4o mini was used to create the initial section structure for this essay.

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:

Initial text provided using ChatGPT 4o mini on October 25, 2024 with the prompt: “What procedures should be taken to avoid the mis-use of generative A.I. in education”.


This information is based on

More information about generative artificial intelligence can be found:

In-text referencing

Prompt included in-text

ChatGPT's response when prompted with “...”  was...  (4o mini, Open AI, October 16, 2024)

Prompt not included in-text

The main differences between ChatGPT-4 and ChatGPT-3 are…
Reference List

Only include in the bibliography if the link is recoverable.  The publisher or developer is in the author position.

Open AI. 2024. Response to “What differentiates ChatGPT-4 and ChatGPT-3” ChatGPT-4, February 16. https://aiarchives.org/id/MJaS7GcIJxYAoTByMTLI.
Notes
  • It's important to include your prompt and the response from the generative AI software.
  • Since the information from generative AI is not recoverable, it is best cited as personal communications. As such it should not be included in the reference list. Cite them in-text only.
  • A.I. Archives provide recoverable links to generative AI content.  If you use these tools, you will need to provide a full entry in your reference list.  See above reference list example of this.
  • For more information see:  Citing AI-generated content (CMOS 14.112).