When providing citations for Generative AI text in APA style, please note that the most recent APA style guide (the 7th edition) does not include information on citing generative GenAI tools.
That said, the official APA Style blog has posted best practice guidelines. The two approaches based on the APA Style blog post are outlined in the video below.
In both scenarios, it is recommended to include both the input (i.e. the prompt) and the output (i.e. the GenAI response) as an appendix.
Please also note that your instructor may have specific, additional, or alternative requirements around the use of GenAI tools, so always consult your assignment or course outline before you begin.
In scenarios where a stable link is provided by the GenAI tool, treat GenAI prompts and responses as a website.
Here's an example of what the in-text citation would look for both a paraphrase and direct quotation. Remember to include the full citation in your Reference List.
Format:
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Paraphrased text (Author of AI tool, Year prompt/responses created). |
Example:
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While it would be misleading to label ChatGPT's recognition of bias as awareness, the responses to our test prompts did detail both the presence and limitations of bias mitigation processes (OpenAl, 2024). |
Format:
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"Quoted text" (Author of AI tool, Year prompt/responses created, Paragraph number). |
Example:
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The ChatGPT output suggests that Generative AI tools "by themselves, cannot fully recognize or mitigate their inherent biases" (OpenAI, 2024, para. 1). |
In scenarios where a stable link is provided by the GenAI tool, treat GenAI prompts and responses as a website.
Here's an example of what the reference list would look like.
Format:
|
Author of AI tool. (Date prompt/responses created). Title of conversation. Name of AI website. URL of website conversation |
Example:
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OpenAI. (September 3, 2024). AI bias mitigation methods. ChatGPT. https://chatgpt.com/share/fdec7366-3ee1-4381-98ba-7265c6f33069 |
In scenarios where a stable link is not provided by the GenAI tool, treat GenAI prompts and responses as software.
Here's an example of what the in-text citation would look for both a paraphrase and direct quotation. Remember to include the full citation in your Reference List.
Format:
| Paraphrased text (Author of AI tool, Year software version was released). |
Example:
|
The Copilot output highlighted that training data may underrepresent people depending on considerations of race, ethnicity, and more (Microsoft, 2023). |
When providing a direct quote, it is good practice to include a copy of the conversation in an appendix (e.g., transcript or screenshots of conversation) and reference in the in-text citation the first time you use a quotation (e.g. "See Appendix A for the full transcript").
Format:
| "Quoted text" (Author of AI tool, Year software version was released, Paragraph number, Appendix call out). |
Example:
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The Copilot output did highlight that "people from racial, ethnic, or cultural minorities may be underrepresented in the training data" (Microsoft, 2023, para. 2; See Appendix A for the full transcript). |
In scenarios where a stable link is not provided by the GenAI tool, treat GenAI prompts and responses as software.
Here's an example of what the Reference List would look like.
Format:
|
Author of AI tool. (Year software version was released). Title of AI software tool (Version # if available) [Type of model]. Retrieval date, from URL of software tool |
Example:
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Microsoft. (2023). Copilot for Microsoft 365 [Large multimodal model]. Retrieved May 24, 2024, from https://copilot.microsoft.com/ |