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How to Cite AI in APA, MLA and Chicago
APA cites AI output with the company as author and the model as the title, for example OpenAI.
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(2023). ChatGPT [Large language model]. MLA does not treat the AI as an author and puts a description of your prompt in the title position. Chicago prefers a footnote and usually no bibliography entry. Citing matters because readers can't open your chat, so the citation has to tell them which tool you used and what you asked it.
Plongée profonde
All three major styles published guidance on generative AI in 2023. They differ mainly on who or what counts as the author. APA (guidance posted on the APA Style blog in April 2023) treats the company that built the model as the author. A reference looks like this: OpenAI. (2023). ChatGPT (Mar 14 version) [Large language model]. https://chat.openai.com/chat. The in-text citation is (OpenAI, 2023). APA asks writers to describe the prompt in the text. For long responses, it suggests putting the full exchange in an appendix so readers can see what the model produced. MLA (guidance published in March 2023) says not to treat the AI as an author. The title slot gets a description of what was generated, usually the prompt in quotation marks. After that come the tool as the container, its version, the publisher, the date the content was generated, and the location. The in-text citation uses a shortened form of that title. MLA also asks writers to acknowledge non-quoted uses, such as editing help, in a note or in the text. Chicago generally cites AI output in a note. For example: 1. ChatGPT, response to "Explain how to make pizza dough from common household ingredients," OpenAI, March 7, 2023. If the prompt is already given in your text, the note can be shorter. Chicago usually leaves AI output out of the bibliography because readers can't retrieve the conversation, treating it much like a personal communication. A publicly shareable link may change that. A common misconception is that citing an AI makes its claims reliable. It doesn't. If ChatGPT describes a study, find the study and cite that instead. Another is that the style guide decides whether you can use AI at all. Your instructor's or publisher's policy decides that first.
Impact stratégique
Risques et sécurité
Les dommages catastrophiques et quotidiens causés par l’IA dépendent tous deux de la personne qui comprend les risques et qui peut agir.
Décisions plus claires
Les connaissances du public et des professionnels déterminent si une politique de sécurité forte est politiquement possible.
Passer à travers le battage médiatique
Des explications claires réduisent la capture par le battage médiatique, les relations publiques en laboratoire et le théâtre d'éthique vague.
The Future of How to Cite AI in APA, MLA and Chicago
Citation rules for AI will keep changing as the tools do. Open questions include how to cite outputs that combine several models, outputs based on live web searches, and AI features built into ordinary software like word processors. Share links and exportable transcripts may make AI output easier to retrieve, which could move styles such as Chicago toward fuller reference entries. Expect the three style guides to update their examples rather than change their basic logic.
Mise en œuvre dans le monde réel
A psychology student writes: When prompted with "Is the left-brain/right-brain divide real?" ChatGPT said the idea is largely a myth (OpenAI, 2023). The reference list then includes the OpenAI entry with the model version and URL.
An English student quotes an AI summary of a poem. In the Works Cited, the entry starts with the prompt in quotation marks, followed by ChatGPT, the version, OpenAI, the date it was generated, and the URL.
A history student adds a footnote: 1. Text generated by ChatGPT, OpenAI, March 7, 2023, https://chat.openai.com/chat. Following Chicago's usual advice, there is no bibliography entry.
A student used AI only to brainstorm and did not quote or paraphrase it. Following the course policy, they add a short disclosure note instead of a formal citation.
Risques et garde-fous
Traiter le risque existentiel comme de la science-fiction alors que les capacités s’accroissent.
Confondre sécurité des produits de surface et alignement sous haute autonomie.
Laisser le public non anglophone et non expert avec uniquement des sources de mauvaise qualité.
Feuille de route de mise en œuvre
Séparez les dommages causés aux produits, leur mauvaise utilisation et les risques de perte de contrôle/désalignement.
Demandez quelles preuves pourraient changer votre point de vue sur les délais et la gravité.
Préférez les sources primaires et les évaluations concrètes aux allégations marketing.
Identifiez une voie d’action : carrière, politique, financement ou compétences – et pas seulement la sensibilisation.
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Questions fréquemment posées
What is How to Cite AI in APA, MLA and Chicago?
APA cites AI output with the company as author and the model as the title, for example OpenAI. (2023). ChatGPT [Large language model]. MLA does not treat the AI as an author and puts a description of your prompt in the title position. Chicago prefers a footnote and usually no bibliography entry. Citing matters because readers can't open your chat, so the citation has to tell them which tool you used and what you asked it.
In APA style, who is listed as the author of ChatGPT output?
APA treats the company that built the model as the author, as in OpenAI. (2023). ChatGPT [Large language model].
In MLA style, what normally goes in the title position of an AI citation?
MLA does not treat AI as an author. It uses a description of the generated content, usually the prompt in quotation marks, as the title.
Where does Chicago style usually cite AI-generated text?
Chicago generally cites AI output in a footnote or endnote and usually leaves it out of the bibliography.
Why does Chicago usually leave AI output out of the bibliography?
Because the conversation usually can't be retrieved, Chicago treats it much like a personal communication. A public link may change that.
What does APA suggest for a long AI response?
APA suggests putting long exchanges in an appendix so readers can see exactly what the model produced.
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