The APA Style team is developing official guidelines on how to cite, quote, and use ChatGPT and other generative AI tools. This technology is new and we are all learning about generative AI resources and how to ethically use them. Listed here is interim guidance and examples as of May 2023. Definitive and detailed guidelines on this topic can be found on the APA Style Blog.
Example:
In-text citation:
When prompted with “Is the left brain right brain divide real or a metaphor?” the ChatGPT-generated text indicated that although the two brain hemispheres are somewhat specialized, “the notation that people can be characterized as ‘left-brained’ or ‘right-brained’ is considered to be an oversimplification and a popular myth” (OpenAI, 2023).
Reference:
OpenAI. (2023). ChatGPT. (May 12 version) [Large language model]. https://chat.openai.com/chat
Microsoft. (2025). Copilot for Microsoft 365 [Large multimodal model]. https://copilot.microsoft.com/
References direct readers to the specific sources that a writer used. Since the text ChatGPT generates is not retrievable, consider including the AI text as an appendix or as online supplemental material. If you do so, then readers may be referred to the appendix or the online supplemental material when the AI text is cited. It would be good practice to describe, in the method section or introduction, how you used the AI tool and the prompt that generated the specific AI response.
The reference format in Section 10.10 (Software) can be used, with the author of the model as OpenAI, not ChatGPT. The title lists the name of the model, i.e., ChatGPT, Bard, etc., and it italicized. After the title include the version number provided by the model. Provide the descriptor, Large language model, in square brackets. Provide the URL for the source of the model.
From Unveristy of Guelph-Humber Library. Last updated 2023, May 31. ChatGPT & Other AI Generative Tools. https://guelphhumber.libguides.com/c.php?g=716556&p=5279441
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