Use of AI tools for generative text in academic assignments should be cited. The creators of popular style guides have issued formatting guidance on how to cite or reference AI-generated content. Click on the APA or MLA tab for the latest advice on citing and referencing AI-generated content.
As an instructor, you are free to require students to include additional information in their citations and references. For example, if a style guide doesn't require a full-text transcript of the results of a prompt, but you prefer to have full-text transcripts, you can require students to provide those in addition to the information required by the style guide.
APA template for citing an AI chat:
AI Company Name. (year, month day). Title of chat in italics [Description, such as Generative AI chat].
Tool Name / Model. URL of the chat
Parenthetical citation: (AI Company Name, year)
Narrative citation: AI Company Name (year)
Click here for more APA guidance.
Source: McAdoo, T., Denneny, S., & Lee, C. (2025, September 9). Citing generative AI in APA style: Part 1 - reference
formats. APA Style Blog. https://apastyle.apa.org/blog/cite-generative-ai-references
MLA template for citing an AI chat:
"Text of prompt" prompt. AI Tool, Tool Version, company that created the tool, day month. year, URL.
Parenthetical Citation: ("First few words of the prompt").
Narrative Citation: ("First few words of the prompt")
Note that MLA recommends omitting the author element when citing AI.
Click here for more MLA guidance.
Source: Modern Language Association (MLA). "How Do I Cite Generative AI in MLA Style? (Updated and Revised)." MLA
Style Center Blog, 13 August 2025, https://style.mla.org/citing-generative-ai-updated-revised/