How to Create an APA 7th edition Reference for citing the use of AI
| Author |
Date |
Title |
(SOURCE) URL |
|
Author of the algorithm creating the output.
(usually an AI company, such as OpenAI)
|
(2023).
(year of the version you used, exact date is not needed).
|
Title of model (Version) [Large language model].
(name of model serves as the title, followed by a version such as 3.5 or 4.0 -OR- the full date the information was used, finally followed by bracketed text to describe the technology.)
|
https://xxx.xxxx
(the main website of the language model being used)
|
Tips for citing the use of AI (paraphrased from apastyle.apa.org):
- Author: Because there is a not a PERSON generating the output from large language models, APA determined that the "author" is actually the creator of the algorithm used to develop the text answer from the prompt. For example, the algorithm being used for ChatGPT was developed by the company OpenAI, so in this example, we're citing OpenAI as the "author."
- Date: Year of the version of the product used. You don't need a full date with a month and a day. Basically, if you used ANY version ChatGPT (whether it was version 3.5 or 4.0+) on April 14, 2024, the date for the reference would be 2024.
- Title: When you use ChatGPT or any other generative AI product, usually the results from the prompt cannot be exactly replicated. Not by you or anyone else. Since this is not a reference that you can direct someone else too, APA has determined to simply use the name of the model or product itself. In this case we're using the example of ChatGPT. However, APA suggests having three parts to the title:
- Name of the model or product
- Version used (if you don't know the version number, just use the full date that you used the product)
- a descriptor of the product in brackets = [Large language model]
- Source: The main website of the product or model.
Examples:
Reference:
OpenAI. (2024). ChatGPT (July 26 version) [Large language model]. https:chat.openai.com/chat
In-text Citation (Paraphrase):
(OpenAI, 2024).
NOTES:
- ECU has several websites to share resources and classroom policies on the use of AI in the university classroom.
- Please note that ECU Instructors can CHOOSE whether or not they allow the use of AI, along with the level of use, if allowed.
- Please refer to your ECU course syllabus and your individual instructor to see if using AI is allowed for your coursework.
- APA Publishing has also published specific policies on the use of AI with their peer-reviewed journals: https://www.apa.org/pubs/journals/resources/publishing-policies?tab=3
- Check with individual journal or publisher websites to find their AI publishing policies. These policies should be listed within their "author guidelines" OR their journal publishing resources or FAQ.
- If you do not see a policy directly related to the use of AI on a publisher or journal website, email the journal editor directly with questions.
