Introduction: Transparency is Your Best Defense
A few years ago, citing "artificial intelligence" in a bibliography would have looked like science fiction. Today, it is a requirement.
Most universities have moved from "banning" AI to "regulating" it. They often allow you to use AI for brainstorming or outlining, as long as you credit it. If you use an idea, quote, or structure from ChatGPT and fail to cite it, that is technically plagiarism.
But how do you cite a robot? It doesn't have a last name, and it doesn't publish books.
Fortunately, major style guides like APA and MLA have released official rules. This guide breaks them down into simple formulas you can use right now.
The Golden Rule: Cite the Primary Source First
Before you copy an AI citation, pause.
If you used a tool like Perplexity or Bing Chat to find a fact, for example, "The population of Paris in 1789", do not cite the AI.
Instead, click the link the AI provided, read the original article, and cite that article. The AI is just the search engine (like Google); it is not the source of the fact. You only need to cite the AI if you are quoting its exact words or summarizing a conversation you had with it.
How to Cite AI in APA Style (7th Edition)
The APA Style treats AI models like software. The author is the company (e.g., OpenAI), and the title is the name of the model.
The Formula: Author/Company. (Year). Title of model (Version) [Large language model]. URL.
The Example:
Reference List: OpenAI. (2025). ChatGPT (May 24 version) [Large language model]. https://chat.openai.com
In-Text Citation: (OpenAI, 2025)
Pro Tip: If you can create a "Share Link" for your chat (a feature available in ChatGPT and Perplexity), APA recommends using that specific URL so your teacher can see exactly what the AI said.
How to Cite AI in MLA Style (9th Edition)
The MLA Style Center focuses on the prompt you used. They view the conversation as the "source."
The Formula: "Description of prompt" prompt. Name of AI Tool, Version, Publisher, Date, URL.
The Example:
Works Cited: "Explain the symbolism of the green light in Gatsby" prompt. ChatGPT, 13 Feb. version, OpenAI, 8 Mar. 2025, chat.openai.com.
In-Text Citation: ("Explain the symbolism")
Note that MLA does not treat the AI as an "author," so you skip the author slot and start with the prompt description.
How to Cite AI in Chicago Style (17th Edition)
Chicago Style is unique. It generally treats AI text as a "personal communication." This means you cite it in a footnote, but you often do not include it in your bibliography unless your professor specifically asks for it.
The Formula (Footnote):
Text generated by Name of AI, Month Day, Year, Publisher, URL.
The Example:
Text generated by ChatGPT, March 7, 2025, OpenAI, https://chat.openai.com.
Save Your Receipts (The Appendix)
Citations are good, but "receipts" are better. AI tools change their answers every time. If your teacher tries to verify your citation by typing in the same prompt, they will get a different result.
To protect yourself, you should always:
Save the transcript: Copy the entire conversation into a Word document or PDF.
Create an Appendix: At the end of your essay, add an "Appendix: AI Usage" section where you paste the full chat log.
This proves exactly what you asked and what the AI answered, removing any doubt about your integrity.
Conclusion
Citing AI doesn't have to be scary. It is actually a power move. It shows your teacher that you are digitally literate, honest, and rigorous about your research.
When in doubt, check your course syllabus. If your professor has a specific rule that differs from APA or MLA, always follow the professor's rule first.
Correctly Use and Reference ChatGPT in Academic Writing | APA 7th Style
This video walks you through the specific formatting for APA 7th edition citations, including how to handle in-text citations for AI-generated text.
