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Cite Your Sources in MLA 9th: ChatGPT and Generative AI

When to Cite Generative AI

It is important to acknowledge any work or ideas that come from outside sources in your college assignments, even if those outside sources are generated by artificial intelligence tools such as ChatGPT. Here are some examples of when you should cite ChatGPT or another generative AI tool as a source:

  • When you directly quote or paraphrase any text that is generated by AI
  • When you incorporate any work created by AI into your assignment, including images, data aggregation, etc. 
  • When you use a functional tool provided by AI, such as translating, editing, etc. (You can either mention this in your assignment or cite it in a note.)

In general, if you use generative AI in any capacity for your assignment and are not sure whether or not to cite it, we recommend erring on the side of caution and citing it as a source.

How to Cite Generative AI

Text Generated by AI

Format:

"Description of prompt" prompt. Name of AI Tool, version, Company That Made the Tool, Date Content was Generated, URL for Tool. 

Examples:

“Describe the symbolism of the green light in the book The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald” prompt. ChatGPT, 13 Feb. version, OpenAI, 8 Mar. 2023, chat.openai.com/chat.

“Summarize the book The Bluest Eye by Toni Morrison” prompt. ChatGPT, GPT-4, OpenAI, 30 June 2023, chat.openai.com/chat.

Images Generated by AI

Format:

Fig. X. "Description of prompt" prompt. Name of AI Tool, version, Company That Made the Tool, Date Content was Generated, URL for Tool. 

Example:

A pointillist digital painting of a sheep in a sunny field of blue flowers

Fig. 1. “Pointillist painting of a sheep in a sunny field of blue flowers” prompt, DALL-E, version 2, OpenAI, 8 Mar. 2023, labs.openai.com/.

Numbering:

Figures should be numbered in the order they appear in your assignment and the word "Figure" should be abbreviated to "Fig.", e.g. Fig. 1, Fig. 2, Fig. 3.

Creative Textual Works (Such as Poems) Generated by AI

Format:

"Title of Work or First 2-4 Words . . . [If No Title]" description of creative work. Name of AI Tool, version, Company That Made the Tool, Date Content was Generated, URL for Tool. 

Examples:

“The Sunflower” villanelle about a sunflower. ChatGPT, 13 Feb. version, OpenAI, 8 Mar. 2023, chat.openai.com/chat.

“Upon the shore . . .” Shakespearean sonnet about seeing the ocean. ChatGPT, 13 Feb. version, OpenAI, 8 Mar. 2023, chat.openai.com/chat.

Secondary Sources Cited by AI Tool

Format:

If you cite an AI-generated summary that provides secondary sources, we recommend citing both the AI tool and the secondary sources, (after double-checking to make sure the sources are legitimate). For example, if an AI-generated summary cites a webpage as a source, your Works Cited List will include a citation for "Text Generated by AI" (see above) and a second citation for the webpage referenced in the summary. 

Example:

"Explain the concept of the political unconscious and provide websites where I can learn more" prompt. ChatGPT, GPT-4, OpenAI, 30 June 2023, chat.openai.com/chat.

"Political unconscious." Oxford Reference, Oxford University Press, https://www.oxfordreference.com/view/10.1093/oi/authority.20110803100334787. Accessed 30 June 2023.

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