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MLA Citation Guide (8th Edition): Artificial Intelligence (ChatGPT, DALL-E, etc)

Before Citing AI

  • Before using ChatGPT or other generative Artificial Intelligence (AI) tools, make sure to check with your instructor if you can do so, and if so what exactly is permitted for a specific assignment

  • If you are permitted to use ChatGPT or similar AI, evaluate the content carefully and critically. Content produced may contain incorrect or biased and therefore unreliable information. These tools may also infringe on your privacy (e.g. collecting data about you and sharing it), so use them with caution. Consider using more authoritative, reliable, secure sources instead
  • If you are permitted to use AI-generated content, make sure to cite the information you use in the text and in the works cited list 
  • For more explanations and various examples from the MLA Style Centre

How to Cite AI Generated Text

When you quote, summarize or paraphrase AI generated text, you must cite it in-text and in your Works Cited list.

Works cited format: 

 "Your prompt" prompt. Name of Tool, Version if known, Publisher/Company, Date content was generated, URL to chat.

Works Cited Example

"How many r's are there in rhinoceros?" prompt. ChatGPT, model GPT-4o, OpenAI, 15 Oct. 2024, https://chatgpt.com/share/68cac8a2-d74c-8009-a330-f58d9d784478.
In-Text Citation Examples

("Shortened version of your prompt")

Example: ("How many r's")

Narrative example: 

When prompted to count letters in words, ChatGPT often failed to do so accurately, or would simply agree with whatever correction I provided even when I was incorrect  ("How many r's"). 

How to Cite AI Generated Images

If you are incorporating an AI-generated image in your work, give it a figure number and create a caption for it. Follow the format:

Fig. #. "Your prompt" prompt, Name of AI Tool, version, Company/Publisher, date created, URL to prompt and generated image. 

Example for including an AI generated image within the body of your assignment:

Fig. 1. “An image of the perfect baby on a white background” prompt, ChatGPT, OpenAI, model GPT-4o,15 Nov. 2024, chatgpt.com/share/68cad1a0-2780-8009-a9c1-4b41b4e6d974.

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