Citing and referencing: Generative AI

A guide to the styles recommended by Monash schools and departments for students and researchers

Generative AI

Important note: Many major citing and referencing styles are yet to publish guidelines on how to cite and reference artificial intelligence technology sources. The following examples were created based on: the style’s interim advice where available, or the closest source type where such interim advice is not yet available. 

 

Please also note that the examples listed below use OpenAI's generative language model, ChatGPT, as an example for the ease of comparison between different styles. 

 

In addition to citing and referencing, the University also requires that you declare the use of generative AI as part of your assessment, including how you used it, and the prompts you have used. Please see LearnHQ for current University advice on appropriately using generative AI in your work and how to acknowledge it.

APA 6th - ChatGPT classified as 'software'

  Rule Example
In-text citation
(parenthetical)

(Author, Year)

Optional: Long responses from ChatGPT can be included in an appendix or as online supplemental materials.

(OpenAI, 2023)

(OpenAI, 2023; see appendix A for the full transcript).

Reference List entry

Author. (Year). Title of software (Version) [Software descriptor]. Source URL

OpenAI. (2023). ChatGPT (May 3 Version) [Large language model]. https://chat.openai.com

APA 7th - ChatGPT classified as 'software'

  Rule Example
In-text citation
(parenthetical)

(Author, Year)

Optional: Long responses from ChatGPT can be included in an appendix or as online supplemental materials.

(OpenAI, 2023)

(OpenAI, 2023; see appendix A for the full transcript).

Reference List entry Author. (Year). Title of software (Version) [Software descriptor]. Publisher. URL OpenAI. (2023). ChatGPT (May 3 Version) [Large language model]. OpenAI. https://chat.openai.com

 

AGLC4 - ChatGPT classified as 'written correspondence' (rule 7.12)

  Rule - based on interim advice from Melbourne University Law Review (AGLC4 Editors) Example
Footnote

Output from [program], [creator] to [recipient], [Day Month Year].

(Optional) Discursive text may be used in the footnote to provide information about the prompts used to generate the output. Refer to AGLC rule 1.1.5 for more details.

1 Output from ChatGPT, OpenAI to Jane Doe, 09 May 2023.
Subsequent Note

If the footnotes are immediately before/after each other, you should use 'Ibid'. Refer to AGLC Rule 1.4.3 for more details.

2 Ibid.

  If the citations are not sequential, you should use 'n'. This also applies if they are immediately preceding each other, but there is more than one source in that footnote. Refer to AGLC Rule 1.4.1 for more details. 5 Open AI (n1).
Bibliography [creator] to [recipient], [type of correspondence], [full date]
Refer to AGLC Rule 1.13 for more details.
OpenAI, ChatGPT to Jane Doe, 09 May 2023

 

Chicago 17th (A) Notes - ChatGPT classified as 'software'

  Rule Example
Note Note Number. Name of Generative AI, edition, version (developer, year). 1. Chat GPT, GPT-4, May 3 update (Open AI, 2023)
Subsequent Note Note Number. Name of Generative AI 2. Chat GPT
Reference/Bibliography Developer. Name of Generative AI. Edition, version. Publisher, year. Additional information of relevance such as URL/author/composer/animator etc. Open AI. Chat GPT. GPT-4, May 3 update. Open AI, 2023. https://chat.openai.com/

Chicago 17th (B) Author-Date - ChatGPT classified as 'software'

  Rule Example
In-text citation
(parenthetical)
(Developer Year of version) (Open AI 2023)
Reference/Bibliography Developer. Year. Name of Generative AI Program. Model, version. Publisher, year. Additional information of relevance such as URL/author/composer/animator etc. Open AI. 2023. ChatGPT. GTP-4, May 3 update. Open AI, 2023. https://chat.openai.com/

CSIRO - ChatGPT classified as 'data set'

  Rule Example
In-text citation
(parenthetical)
(Organisation Year) (OpenAI 2023)
Reference List entry Organisation (Year of publication) 'Title of data set.' Available at URL [Verified Day Month Year] OpenAI (2023) 'ChatGPT.' Available at https://chat.openai.com [Verified 09 May 2023]

 

Harvard - ChatGPT classified as 'data set'

  Rule Example
In-text citation
(parenthetical)
(Author Year) (Open AI 2023)
Reference List entry Author (Year) Title of data set [data set], Name of Website, accessed Day Month Year. URL OpenAI (2023) ChatGPT [data set], OpenAI, accessed 9 May 2023. https://chat.openai.com

 

IEEE - ChatGPT classified as 'software'

  Rule Example
In-text citation References need not be cited in the text. When they are, they appear on the line, in square brackets, inside punctuation. Grammatically, they may be treated as if they were footnote numbers. [1]
Reference List entry [Note number] Author. Title of Software. (Version or year). Publisher Name. Accessed: Month(abrv). Day, Year. [Type of Medium]. Available: site/path/file [1] ChatGPT. (2023). OpenAI. Accessed: May 09, 2023. [Large language model]. Available: https://chat.openai.com

 

MLA 8th - ChatGPT classified as 'software'

  Rule Example
In-text citation
(parenthetical)
Consists of a shortened version of the title (shortened to three words) in quotation marks. ("Policy databases for")
Reference List entry "Text of prompt" prompt. Tool/Software, Day Month version, Publisher, Day Month Year, URL

"Policy databases for Australian academics" prompt. ChatGPT, May 3 Version, OpenAI, 09 May 2023, https://chat.openai.com/chat

 

Vancouver 2022 - ChatGPT classified as 'software'

  Rule Example
In-text citation

Each reference should be cited in consecutive numerical order by means of superscript arabic numerals 

paraphrased text ¹

In response to this prompt, Chat GPT3 produced a response with a number of incorrect references¹
Reference List entry Number. Name of Software. Version. Publisher; Year. Accessed Month Day, Year. URL 1. ChatGPT. May 3 Version. OpenAI; 2023. Accessed May 05, 2023. https://chat.openai.com