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Artificial Intelligence (AI) Library Guide: How to Cite AI Tools

Citing and referencing AI

Harvard Referencing Examples

We recommend referencing any Generative AI content in your work in the format of a personal communication or letter. 

Citing an AI text generator in-text

(OpenAI ChatGPT, 2023).

Full reference for an AI text generator in your reference list

OpenAI ChatGPT (2023) ChatGPT output on sociological imagination to John Smith, 28 April.

 

Citing an AI image in-text

(Midjourney Inc., 2023)

Full reference for an AI image generator in your reference list

Midjourney Inc. (2023) Generated image on cats in the library to John Smith,14 August.

 

Visit our Referencing LibGuide for a general introduction to the practice of writing references and bibliographies.

For information on how to cite AI in other referencing styles, use Cite Them Right.

Acknowledging use of AI tools in your work (not the same as referencing)

How to acknowledging the use of Generative AI in your academic work.  

You should always acknowledge any use of AI, even if you didn't directly use the AI generated content.  For example, if you used AI in the development of ideas and concepts in your work, you must still acknowledge that.
Check with your tutor if you are allowed to use AI for any part of your assignment from brainstorming to structuring to summarising etc. 

How? 

Provide a description of the AI tool used, how the information was generated, including the prompts you used, and the date accessed. You could add this acknowledgement as a footnote or at the end of your reference list, but you should check with the course coordinator or tutor for guidance.

Format: ​​
I acknowledge the use of [insert AI system(s) with link] to [how the AI was used]. The prompts or questions/sub-questions used include [list of prompts]. ​​
Example: 
I acknowledge the use of Copilot [https://copilot.cloud.microsoft/] to generate ideas and material for background research and project planning in the drafting of this assignment. The following prompts were entered into Copilot on 4 November 2024: ​"Explain whether Boolean operators are still useful even with artificial intelligence in a 50 word paragraph". "Please reference your answer".

🚩 Remember: Content from generative AI is a nonrecoverable source as it can't be retrieved or linked back to.

Referencing help

Visit our Referencing LibGuide for a general introduction to the practice of writing references and bibliographies.