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AI Literacy: How to Cite GenAI Usage

How to Cite GenAI Usage

Please read the following before you use or you would acknowledge the use of any kind of GenAI tool for your assignments or research deliverables:

  1. Familiarize yourself with the university's AI policy to ensure compliance with any guidelines or restrictions.
  2. If you are using any kind of GenAI tool for research purposes, it is advisable to check with the publisher about their AI policy to ensure proper usage of AI. Here is one of the resources to check with Policies on AI Usage in Scholarly Publishing: Grant Applications, Manuscript Submission, Peer Review (The University of Victoria Libraries, 2023). For your reference only. 
  3. If you are using any kind of GenAI tool for course assignment purposes, you should consult your course teacher or supervisor to seek guidance and approval regarding the use of GenAI tools in completing your assignments.
  4. Be aware of certain plagiarism detection systems, such as Turnitin. For detailed information on Turnitin's AI writing detection process, please refer to the HKU resources of AI Writing Detection (NEW!) - Turnitin - LibGuides at University of Hong Kong or Turnitin - The Plagiarism Checker for AI writing » Information Technology Services (hku.hk).

Reminder

When GenAI tools are used in learning and research contexts, the usage should be acknowledged and documented appropriately. This guide gives some examples below from recommendations in some citation styles for your reference, for citing AI-generated content.

Citing AI-generated content in APA style

APA style

In-text Citation Example
(Company, Year) When prompted with “Is the left brain right brain divide real or a metaphor?” the ChatGPT-generated text indicated that although the two brain hemispheres are somewhat specialized, “the notation that people can be characterized as ‘left-brained’ or ‘right-brained’ is considered to be an oversimplification and a popular myth” (OpenAI, 2023).
Reference Example
Company (Year).AI Name(version) [Descriptor]. URL. OpenAI. (2023). ChatGPT (Mar 14 version) [Large language model]. URL

How to cite ChatGPT (apa.org)  - APA Style Blog (Nov, 2023)

Citing AI-generated content in Chicago style

Chicago style

In-text Citation Example
(AI name, Date) …(ChatGPT, Nov 3, 2023).
Reference Example
AI name, response to “Prompt used,” Company, Date. URL (URL is optional). ChatGPT, response to “Explain how to make pizza dough from common household ingredients,” OpenAI, March 7, 2023. (URL)

Citation, Documentation of Sources (chicagomanualofstyle.org) (Nov, 2023)

Citing AI-generated content in MLA style

MLA style

In-text Citation Example
…(“The first three words of the prompt used”). While the green light in The Great Gatsby might be said to chiefly symbolize four main things: optimism, the unattainability of the American dream, greed, and covetousness (“Describe the symbolism”), arguably the most important.
Reference Example
“Prompt used” prompt. AI Name, Version, Company, Date, URL. “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, URL

How do I cite generative AI in MLA style? | MLA Style Center (Nov, 2023)

Citing AI-generated content in Harvard style

Harvard style

In-text Citation Example
(Company, Year) When prompted by the author, ChatGPT responded with a ‘definition of academic integrity’ (OpenAI, 2023). A copy of this response is in Appendix 1. 
Reference Example
Company (Year).AI name. [Descriptor]. Available URL [Accessed date]

OpenAI (2023).ChatGPT. [Large language model]. URL [Accessed 1 November 2023].

Generative AI - Harvard Style Guide - LibGuides at UCD Library (Nov, 2023)

Relevant Resources

AI Writing Detection
There is a library guide about AI Writing Detection. View more information at https://libguides.lib.hku.hk/turnitin/aiwritingdetection