How to Cite ChatGPT and AI Tools in Your Paper
Current APA, MLA, and Chicago guidelines for citing ChatGPT, Claude, and other AI tools in academic work.
AI tools like ChatGPT, Claude, and Gemini are now part of the academic workflow. Whether you used AI to brainstorm, summarize, or generate text, you may need to cite it. Here's what each major style guide says.
When Do You Need to Cite AI?
Not every use of AI requires a citation. The general rule:
- Cite it when AI-generated text appears in your paper (quoted or paraphrased)
- Cite it when AI substantially shaped your argument or analysis
- Disclose it (but don't necessarily cite) when you used AI for grammar checking, brainstorming, or code assistance
- Check your institution's policy -- some universities require disclosure of all AI use, others only require citing direct output
APA 7th Edition
APA treats AI-generated text as a non-recoverable source (similar to personal communication) but with a reference list entry. Their official guidance (updated 2023):
In-Text Citation
(OpenAI, 2025)
Reference Entry
OpenAI. (2025). ChatGPT (Mar 14 version) Large language model. https://chat.openai.com/chat
Key Rules
- The developer (OpenAI, Anthropic, Google) is the author
- Include the version or date of the model you used
- Describe the tool in square brackets: Large language model
- Include the URL of the tool (formatted the same way as a website citation)
- If you have a shareable chat link, include it instead of the general URL
Example for Claude
Anthropic. (2025). Claude (3.5 Sonnet) Large language model. https://claude.ai
MLA 9th Edition
MLA treats AI-generated text similarly to other generated content. Their guidance:
In-Text Citation
("Describe the impact" 1)
The in-text citation uses the first part of the "title" (your prompt, shortened).
Works Cited Entry
"Describe the impact of climate change on coastal cities." ChatGPT, version GPT-4, OpenAI, 14 Mar. 2025, chat.openai.com/chat.
Key Rules
- Your prompt is the title (in quotation marks)
- The AI tool name is the container title (italicized)
- Include the version, developer, date of generation, and URL
- If you had a multi-turn conversation, describe it: "Response to follow-up prompt about..."
Chicago 17th Edition
Chicago doesn't have a single official AI citation format yet, but recommends treating it as personal communication or software:
Footnote (Notes-Bibliography System)
- Text generated by ChatGPT, OpenAI, March 14, 2025, https://chat.openai.com/chat.
Bibliography Entry
OpenAI. ChatGPT. March 14, 2025. https://chat.openai.com/chat.
Author-Date System
(OpenAI 2025)
Chicago is the most flexible here. When in doubt, include enough information for your reader to identify the tool, version, and date.
Best Practices for AI Citations
- Save your prompts and outputs. AI conversations are ephemeral. Screenshot or copy them before citing.
- Include the specific prompt when possible, especially in MLA.
- Note the date of generation -- AI outputs change over time.
- Specify the model version (GPT-4, Claude 3.5 Sonnet, Gemini Pro).
- Use shareable links if the AI tool provides them (ChatGPT share links, for example).
- Be transparent. Undisclosed AI use can be treated as academic dishonesty at many institutions.
What About AI-Assisted (Not AI-Generated) Work?
If you used AI to:
- Edit grammar or spelling -- Most institutions don't require citation (similar to Grammarly)
- Brainstorm ideas -- Usually requires disclosure, not formal citation
- Generate code -- Varies by institution; CS departments often have specific policies
- Translate text -- Cite if the translation appears in your paper
- Summarize sources -- Cite both the AI tool and the original source
- Paraphrase AI output -- If you're rewording AI-generated text, you still need to cite the tool and should understand how to paraphrase without plagiarizing
When in doubt, check your course syllabus or ask your professor. Policies vary widely and they're still evolving.
Style Comparison
| Element | APA | MLA | Chicago |
|---|---|---|---|
| Author | Developer (OpenAI) | N/A (prompt as title) | Developer or "Text generated by..." |
| Title | Tool name + version | Your prompt | Tool name |
| Date | Year | Full date | Full date |
| URL | Required | Required | Required |
For a broader comparison of how these styles differ, see our APA vs MLA vs Chicago guide.
Try It with CiteTools
Formatting AI citations manually is tricky because the guidelines are new and still evolving. Paste your ChatGPT or AI tool details into CiteTools.io and get a properly formatted AI citation in any style. We stay updated with the latest guidance from APA, MLA, and Chicago.