How to Cite Generative AI in APA Style

Generative AI (artificial intelligence) is a deep-learning model that can generate text, images, and other content based on existing data. Users input prompts and the AI tool will generate content based upon this. Some of the most common generative AI tools include ChatGPT (2022), GitHub Copilot (2021), and AlphaCode (2022).

In general, generative AI should not be cited as a main source as the text (or other content) it produces may be unreliable and cannot be replicated. However, generative AI may be referenced when you are commenting on or evaluating the content it produces (see examples below). 

Example: Incorrect 

Some of the key themes in Pride and Prejudice are “love and marriage, class and social hierarchy, individual growth and self-awareness, and the tension between appearance and reality” (Open AI, 2023). 

Example: Correct 

When asked to list the key themes in Jane Austen’s Pride and Prejudice (1813), ChatGPT responded with “The key themes in Pride and Prejudice are love and marriage, class and social hierarchy, individual growth and self-awareness, and the tension between appearance and reality” (Open AI, 2023). 

Citation format

In-text citation: 

At the end of a citation, in brackets, add the author/publisher of the AI tool and the year of the version used e.g. (OpenAI, 2023)

Reference entry:  

Author/publisher (Year of release) Name of AI model. (Month/day version) [Description of the type of model e.g. Large language model]. URL. 

If you want to include any longer full-text responses, you may add an appendix.