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AI (Artificial Intelligence): Citing AI usage and prompts

Responsible and Effective Use of Artificial Intelligence in Academic Research and Writing

How to Use This Section

This Citing AI section is designed to help you learn how to cite and acknowledge the use of AI tools and prompts in academic settings. 

  • Current page: Explains how to cite the use of AI tools in various citing styles.

  • Use the drop-down menu at the top of the page to explore the subpage:

    • Acknowledge the use of AI prompts: To uphold academic integrity and transparency it is very important to acknowledge when, and how, you have used AI tools in your research.
      An example of an appropriate acknowledgement format is suggested.

What does citing mean?

Citing refers to acknowledging or recognising someone else’s work in professional writing. It is done both within the body of the work as well as at the end according to prescribed citation styles.

Reasons for citing AI

The following are some of the reasons why citing is important:

  • It is a way of showing respect for someone’s intellectual contribution.
  • Proves that you have researched your work thoroughly, and your argument is based on existing ideas.
  • The information is verifiable from trustworthy sources, as AI can hallucinate.
  • It is a way to avoid plagiarism (that you did not just copy another person’s work)

Various citing styles

Style Name

Citation order

Example

APA (American Psychological Association)

Author, Date, Title, and Source

OpenAI. (2024). Response generated to the query "Explain how to cite AI-generated content" [Generative AI tool]. Retrieved December 3, 2024. from http://chat.openai.com/.

Harvard citation style

Company. Year, Product Name in italics, [Type of AI model], Retrieved Month Day, Year, from URL

OpenAI.2023 ChatGPT [Large language model]. Retrieved October 19, 2023, from https://chat.openai.com/chat

MLA

Author, Title of Source, Title of Container, Version, Publisher, Date of Access, URL

“What is the weather today?” ChatGPT, OpenAI, version 3.5, 2023, www.openai.com/chatgpt. Accessed 3 June 2025.

 

When and how to cite?

Citing is compulsory every time someone else’s ideas/information is used, and students are advised to check with their institution’s policy or seek advice from their heads of department or lecturers on which AI tools are recommended, how to acknowledge AI use, and also how to cite.