APA Citation Guide (7th Edition): Generative AI

Policies related to the use of AI-generated text and images may vary by instructor. AI can be used in your work in many ways such as generating images, formatting papers, and as a textual source. Like traditional sources, AI-generated works must be cited when used as a source that you are quoting, paraphrasing, or otherwise incorporating.

When using generative AI tools in your process (e.g., brainstorming, outlining, proofreading, etc.), do not cite but do acknowledge your use somewhere in your methods section, introduction, or footnote (check with your instructor for their guidelines).

As AI becomes increasingly common, APA policies may be subject to change. Examples of correct citations are provided on this page.

Format

Author. (date content was generated). Name of Tool (Version) [Type of Generative AI]. URL

Example

OpenAI. (2023). ChatGPT (14 March version) [Large language model]. https://chat.openai.com/chat

OpenAI. (2023). Dall-E (version 2) [Large text-to image model]. https://labs.openai.com/

Note: 

• APA considers the company or organization that created the AI tool to be the author of the generated content. 
• Large language model is the type of generative-AI most commonly associated with AI text generators while Large text-to image model is the type most commonly associated with AI image generators. Some AI tools may be able to produce multiple types of content so be sure to use the correct type in your citations. 
• When using multiple AI generated sources, it is possible that you might have multiple sources with the same author. In this event, add a lowercase a, b, c, etc. after the year the content was generated in your references.