How to Cite ChatGPT and AI Tools in APA, MLA, and Chicago
Learn the official rules for citing AI-generated content from ChatGPT, Gemini, and Copilot in APA 7th, MLA 9th, and Chicago 17th editions with real examples.
You spent hours crafting the perfect prompt, and ChatGPT delivered a brilliant synthesis of your research. But now your professor wants a citation. Where do you even start?
Citing AI-generated content has become one of the most confusing challenges in academic writing today. With millions of students using tools like ChatGPT, Gemini, Claude, and Microsoft Copilot, every major style guide has published official guidance on how to handle these citations. The problem? Each style takes a slightly different approach.
In this guide, we break down exactly how to cite AI tools in APA 7th Edition, MLA 9th Edition, and Chicago Manual of Style 17th Edition. We cover in-text citations, reference list entries, and the tricky question of how much AI use to disclose.
Why Citing AI Tools Matters
Universities and publishers are taking AI use in academic work seriously. Most institutions now require students to disclose any use of generative AI in their research and writing process. Proper citation is no longer optional — it’s an academic integrity requirement.
Expert Tip: Always check your institution’s specific AI policy before submitting. Some professors prohibit AI use entirely. When in doubt, ask before you cite.
The key principle across all three style guides is the same: treat AI as a source, not an author. You’re citing a tool you used, not crediting an original thinker.
APA 7th Edition: Citing AI Tools
APA’s official guidance (published in April 2023 and updated since) treats AI-generated content as a form of personal communication or software output, depending on context. Here’s how to handle it.
In-Text Citation (APA)
For AI tools, APA recommends citing the prompt you used in the text and including a reference entry for the tool itself.
Format: (Name of AI Tool, Year)
Example: When asked whether the Hawthorne Effect still applies to modern workplace studies, ChatGPT noted that the original concept has been reinterpreted across disciplines (OpenAI, 2026).
Reference List Entry (APA)
| Element | Format |
|---|---|
| Author | Name of AI tool developer |
| Date | Year of version used |
| Title | Name of AI tool (version) [description] |
| Source | URL of the tool |
Example:
OpenAI. (2026). ChatGPT (Mar 14 version) [Large language model]. https://chat.openai.com/
Example with Gemini:
Google. (2026). Gemini (1.5 Pro version) [Large language model]. https://gemini.google.com/
Key APA Rule: Include the full text of your prompt in an appendix or supplemental materials section if your institution requires transparency. APA also recommends describing how you used the AI tool in your methodology section.
MLA 9th Edition: Citing AI Tools
MLA took a different approach. Rather than treating AI output as a fixed, retrievable source, MLA recommends citing the AI tool as the “container” of the generated content, with your prompt as part of the title.
In-Text Citation (MLA)
MLA uses a shortened version of the first element (usually the tool name) and the prompt you used.
Example: ChatGPT noted that “the placebo effect in clinical trials remains one of the most significant methodological challenges” (“Explain placebo effect”).
Works Cited Entry (MLA)
| Element | Format |
|---|---|
| Prompt text | In quotation marks as the title |
| AI Tool | Name of AI tool (italicized) |
| Version | Version or date |
| Publisher | Company that created the tool |
| Date | Date content was generated |
| URL | Direct link to the tool |
Example:
“Explain the placebo effect in clinical trials.” ChatGPT, 14 July 2026, OpenAI, https://chat.openai.com/.
Example with Copilot:
“Summarize key findings of the Stanford prison experiment.” Microsoft Copilot, 10 July 2026, Microsoft, https://copilot.microsoft.com/.
Key MLA Rule: MLA recommends including the prompt verbatim in your Works Cited entry because the output isn’t retrievable by other readers. If you have multiple prompts, create separate entries or describe them in your text.
Chicago Manual of Style: Citing AI Tools
Chicago Manual of Style takes a notes-bibliography approach for AI citations. In April 2023, CMS published official guidance classifying AI-generated content as a “source” that should be cited in notes and optionally in bibliographies.
Footnote/Endnote (Chicago Notes-Bibliography)
Format:
1. Text generated by [AI Tool], [date], [URL].
Example:
1. Text generated by ChatGPT, July 14, 2026, https://chat.openai.com/.
Example with Claude:
1. Claude, responding to prompt “Compare monetarist and Keynesian economic theories,” Anthropic, July 12, 2026, https://claude.ai/.
Bibliography Entry (Chicago)
Example:
ChatGPT. Response to “Explain the Hawthorne Effect in modern workplaces.” OpenAI, July 14, 2026. https://chat.openai.com/.
Key Chicago Rule: CMS recommends including the prompt description in the note, and considers bibliography entries optional. If you’re submitting to a journal, check whether they require a full bibliography entry for AI tools.
When and How to Disclose AI Use
Beyond the formal citation, many institutions require a separate disclosure statement. This is particularly common for:
- Dissertations and theses — Most graduate schools now require a statement in the acknowledgments or methodology section
- Journal submissions — Publishers like Elsevier, Springer, and Taylor & Francis have specific AI disclosure policies
- Course assignments — Increasingly, professors ask for a brief statement of how AI was used
Example disclosure statement:
I used ChatGPT (OpenAI, 2026) to help brainstorm research questions and refine the literature review structure. All AI-generated content was fact-checked against primary sources. Prompts used are included in Appendix A.
Common Questions About AI Citations
Can I list an AI tool as a co-author?
No. Every major style guide and publisher explicitly states that AI tools cannot be listed as authors. APA, MLA, Chicago, and the ICMJE all agree: AI lacks the accountability required for authorship.
Should I include the prompt in my citation?
MLA requires it in the title element. APA recommends putting prompts in an appendix. Chicago suggests describing the prompt in the note. The safest approach: include the prompt text in your citation or an appendix.
What if I edited the AI output significantly?
Cite the AI tool as a source regardless of how much you edited the output. The citation acknowledges that you used AI in your process. Describe the extent of your editing in your methodology or disclosure statement.
Do I need to cite AI for brainstorming?
Most institutions say yes. If AI helped generate ideas, outlines, or research directions, you should disclose it. Check your institution’s specific policy, but disclosure is always safer than nondisclosure.
Simplify Your Citation Workflow with Formatly
Keeping track of different citation rules across APA, MLA, and Chicago is already challenging enough without adding AI citation complexity. That’s where Formatly comes in.
Formatly handles the formatting side of your academic papers automatically — margins, headings, running heads, reference lists, and style compliance. Upload your draft once, and Formatly applies the correct formatting for APA 7th, MLA 9th, Chicago 17th, Harvard, or Turabian in about 30 seconds. You get tracked changes so you can see exactly what was adjusted, plus an interactive AI feedback engine to catch remaining issues.
You focus on the research. Let Formatly handle the formatting.
Ready to eliminate formatting headaches? Upload your document and format it in seconds.
Already using Formatly? Check out our guides on formatting in-text citations and building reference lists.
External References
{ "title": "How to Cite ChatGPT and AI Tools in APA, MLA, and Chicago - Formatly Blog", "excerpt": "Learn the official rules for citing AI-generated content from ChatGPT, Gemini, and Copilot in APA 7th, MLA 9th, and Chicago 17th editions with real examples.", "slug": "how-to-cite-ai-tools-chatgpt-apa-mla-chicago", "readTime": "7 min read", "author": "Formatly Editorial Team", "coverDescription": "Citation guide for AI tools showing ChatGPT, Gemini, and Copilot with APA MLA and Chicago style icons" }Format your manuscript in under 30 seconds
Stop fighting with margins, headings, and lists. Upload your document and let our engine instantly apply APA, MLA, Chicago, or Harvard standards — with full tracked changes.