Use Generative AI

APA Style provides citation examples and advice for using and citing generative AI in this post: How to Cite Chat GPT (updated Sept. 15, 2025). APA recommends treating the organization that developed the model as the author.

The following templates and examples use APA-style format as their basis.

In-Text Citation

Template

(Author/Creator of AI model, Year of version used)

Examples

• (OpenAI, 2025)
• (Black Technology LTD, 2025)

Reference List Entry

Template

Author/creator of AI model. (Year of model). Name of model (Version of model) [Type or description of model]. Retrieved month day, year, from https://xxxxx..

Examples

• OpenAI. (2025). ChatGPT 5 [Large language model]. Retrieved October 15, 2025, from https://chat.openai.com
• Black Technology LTD. (2025). Stable Diffusion (Online version) [Image generator]. Retrieved October 15, 2025 from https://stablediffusionweb.com

Chicago recommends only citing AI in a note (for the notes-bibliography system) or a parenthetical citation (for the author-date system) and not in a bibliography or reference list, unless you provide a publicly available URL (e.g., through a browser extension like ShareGPT or A.I. Archives). This style treats the AI model as an author. Chicago Q&A

Footnote or Endnote (Notes-Bibliography System)

Template

• Note number. Author, description of prompt, publisher, date the text was generated.
• (Omit the prompt if it has been described in your text.)

Example

• 1. ChatGPT, response to “Explain how to make pizza dough from common household ingredients,” OpenAI, October 15, 2025.
• 2. Stable Diffusion, image generated in response to "Pepperoni pizza" in a surrealist style, Black Technology LTD, October 15, 2025.

In-Text Citation (Author-Date System)

• A parenthetical in-text citation should include any information not described in your text.

Example

• (ChatGPT 5, October 15, 2025)
• (Stable Diffusion, October 15, 2025)

An MLA Style Center post includes guidance for using and citing generative AI. MLA does not recommend treating AI tools as authors, so citations should skip the author element.

MLA suggests including the general link to the AI tool (e.g., chat.openai.com/chat). However, if you use a third-party linking tool like ShareGPT, MLA recommends using that link instead. How to cite Generative AI

In-Text Citation

• Include the "title of source" element, shortened based on MLA guidelines if needed. For generative AI, the title will usually be a description of what was generated by the AI model.

Example

• ("Describe the symbolism")
• ("Green light")

Works Cited List Entry

Template

• “Title of source" prompt. Name of AI Tool, version, Company, Date content was generated, URL to AI tool or archived content. 

Example

• “Describe the symbolism of the green light in the book The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald” prompt. ChatGPT 5, OpenAI, 15 Oct. 2025, chat.openai.com. 
• "Green light in The Great Gatsby in a futuristic style" prompt. Stable Diffusion, online version, Black Technology LTD, 15 Oct. 2025, https://stablediffusionweb.com.

Sometimes, you might use generative AI in the process of an assignment, but won't directly quote or paraphrase the AI output within the assignment. Clarify with your instructor if they would like you to acknowledge the use of AI technologies even when the information is not included in the assignment. When using Gen AI transparency is always recommended.

Using Generative AI by University of Alberta Library is licensed under a CC-BY-NC 4.0 licence. 
Artificial Intelligence - Student Guide by MacEwan University Library is licensed under a CC BY-NC-SA licence.