How to Cite AI (like ChatGPT) in APA, MLA, and Chicago

Students are increasingly using generative AI tools like ChatGPT. Citing them is confusing as the rules are new. Using AI without proper citation is a major academic risk.

This guide clarifies how to cite generative AI in APA, MLA, and Chicago, and covers the ethical rules you must follow.

Why Citing AI is a Core Part of Academic Integrity

Citing sources gives credit and helps readers find the work. Citing AI is different because a reader cannot retrieve your exact conversation. The purpose of citing AI is transparency: informing the reader which ideas are yours and which were generated by the AI.

This is a critical part of academic integrity. Failing to disclose AI use is plagiarism. Recent academic research emphasizes that ethical AI use requires clear disclosure and accountability from the student.

The First Rule: Always Check Your Syllabus

Before using AI, must check your professor’s policy. Many instructors forbid AI use. If your syllabus says “no AI,” do not use it. The rules in this guide only apply if your instructor permits it.

How to Cite AI in APA Style (7th Edition)

APA’s official guidance treats the developer as the “author.” You should also describe the prompt used and the AI-generated text in your paper.

APA In-Text Citation

The in-text citation includes the developer and the year.

• Example: (OpenAI, 2024)

APA Reference List Entry

The reference entry lists the developer as the author, the year, the model title (in bold), the version number (if available), the description “[Large language model],” and the URL.

• Template: Developer. (Year). Title of model (Version) [Large language model]. URL
• Example: OpenAI. (2024). ChatGPT-4 (Nov. 13, 2024 version) [Large language model]. https://chat.openai.com

For more details on general formatting, see our APA format guide.

How to Cite AI in MLA Style (9th Edition)

MLA’s guidance differs: it focuses on the prompt you used as the “title” of the work. You must also list the AI tool, its version, the developer, and the access date.

MLA In-Text Citation

The in-text citation should be a shortened version of your prompt, in quotation marks.

• Example: (“Describe the globe theatre in 1599″…)

MLA Works Cited Entry

The Works Cited entry begins with your prompt in quotation marks. Long prompts can be shortened.

• Template: “Your prompt.” Title of AI tool, Version, Developer, Date generated, URL.
• Example: “Describe the Globe Theatre in 1599 in a short paragraph.” ChatGPT-4, 13 Nov. version, OpenAI, 15 Nov. 2025, chat.openai.com.

You can find more rules for MLA in our MLA format guide.

How to Cite AI in Chicago Style (17th Edition)

The Chicago Manual of Style recommends not citing AI in your bibliography. Since the content is not retrievable, Chicago treats it as a “personal communication,” like an interview.

Cite AI only in the text or, more commonly, in a footnote.

Chicago Footnote Example

The footnote should describe the tool, the prompt, and the date.

• Example: 1. Text generated by ChatGPT, OpenAI, November 15, 2025, in response to the prompt “list three themes in *Hamlet*.”

According to the official Chicago Q&A, AI text should not be included in a bibliography unless you have a specific reason (like analyzing the AI itself). For help with general Chicago formatting, see our Chicago style guide.

The Ethics of Using AI in Your Writing

Citing AI is only the first step. You are responsible for the content it produces. You must evaluate, edit, and fact-check everything. AI tools can “hallucinate”—invent facts, create fake citations, and misunderstand topics.

As a 2024 article in Systematic Literature Reviews notes, students must be trained to use AI as a “critical partner, not a blind replacement” for their own thinking. The rules are:

• DO use AI for brainstorming, summarizing complex topics, or checking grammar.
• DO NOT use AI to write your entire paper or perform critical analysis for you.
• DO NOT trust its citations. Always find the original source yourself.
• DO be aware that your professor may use an AI detector to check your work.

If you are struggling with analysis or writing, our editing and proofreading services can provide the human help needed to refine your ideas.