OpenAI. (2023). ChatGPT (Mar 14 version) [Large language model]. https://chat.openai.com/chat
- Parenthetical citation: (OpenAI, 2023)
- Narrative citation: OpenAI (2023)
Check with your instructor before using AI resources for your assignments. They may have policies about using AI-generated content, or have a specific way they want you to cite when you use it.
AI engines such as ChapGPT, Bard, or similar are not really intelligent. They are generative language applications that have been 'trained' on large amounts of text, and when given a prompt, they predict what word will come next in a sentence. This means that while they are useful for many things, they aren't 100% reliable -- an AI app may tell you that Pocahontas learned to paint with all the colors of the wind -- and they are not the same thing as an information source like a journal article or a book. An AI does not know things; it cannot exercise judgement, and when it produces citations, they are nearly always fictional. Exercise caution when using these apps!
The basic format for an APA citation will be as follows:
OpenAI. (2023). ChatGPT (Mar 14 version) [Large language model]. https://chat.openai.com/chat
The APA has put out some guidelines on using and citing AI-generated text. Here are some highlights:
Example text:
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 (Mar 14 version) [Large language model]. https://chat.openai.com/chat
Example text:
When given a follow-up prompt of “What is a more accurate representation?” the ChatGPT-generated text indicated that “different brain regions work together to support various cognitive processes” and “the functional specialization of different regions can change in response to experience and environmental factors” (OpenAI, 2023; see Appendix A for the full transcript).
Reference
OpenAI. (2023). ChatGPT (Mar 14 version) [Large language model]. https://chat.openai.com/chat
Find out more by reading the APA's article: