Metadata
Title
Generative AI
Category
international
UUID
c06eba6e00904536bc3ea72ee7f683ee
Source URL
https://libguides.tcd.ie/gen-ai/chicago
Parent URL
https://libguides.tcd.ie/gen-ai/
Crawl Time
2026-03-16T07:01:32+00:00
Rendered Raw Markdown

Generative AI

Source: https://libguides.tcd.ie/gen-ai/chicago Parent: https://libguides.tcd.ie/gen-ai/

Acknowledgments

The content of this page was adapted with thanks from the How Do I Cite Generative AI? LibGuide from McMaster University Libraries by Ines Perkovic and Sarah Cairns.

Latest Recommendations

This guidance is subject to change as each style develops its standards. Please check with the publisher of each style for the most current guidance, or consult with your instructor or a librarian.

The University of Chicago Press recommends that you cite generative AI tools when you reproduce its words (quoted or paraphrased) and other content (e.g., images) within your own work.

From the new official Chicago Manual of Style (CMOS), 18th edition (September 2024) - Trinity login required

Note: The Chicago Manual of Style is "wider" than just its referencing system - it's a style guide that details how to punctuate, use capitals, format papers etc. In most cases in Trinity, you are NOT being asked to use those guidelines even if you are being told to "use Chicago" - you are using the referencing style only (and almost always, the "Notes and Bibliography" system - Chicago *also* has rules for an Author and Date system!).

In-Text Citations/Notes

If content (text, images, etc.) generated by an AI tool is included in your work (e.g., quoted or paraphrased), you should cite the tool's usage where it occurs in the text or in a note.

When citing an AI tool in the text or in a note, the AI tool (e.g., ChatGPT) is treated as the author of the content and the developer of the AI tool (e.g. OpenAI) is treated as the publisher. The date the content was generated and the AI tool's version number should also be included. The URL should link to a publicly available copy of the AI generated content (see also CMOS 18:13.6 & 13.17).

Also, if the AI-generated content has been edited or adapted, this should be acknowledged in the text or in the note (e.g., edited for style and accuracy)

Cited in the Text (based on Chicago, 18th ed.)

Examples:

The following instructions for fixing a flat bicycle tire were generated on September 30, 2024, by ChatGPT-4.

Here's an image generated with artificial intelligence:\ \ Fig. 2. Image generated by Microsoft Bing Image Creator, DALL-E 3, August 26, 2024, from the prompt "Cityscape at sunset in cubist style."

Cited in a Note (based on Chicago, 18th ed.)

Footnote or Endnote

Examples:

  1. Text generated by ChatGPT-4, OpenAI, September 30, 2024, https://chatgpt.com/share/66fb0ff3-7280-8009-93a9-d956f412390b.

  2. Number. Footnote or endnote number based on its sequence in the body of your text -1.

  3. Author, Name and version of AI tool - ChatGPT-4,
  4. Publisher, Developer of AI tool - OpenAI,
  5. Date, Date content was generated, Month Day, Year - September 30, 2024,
  6. URL. Publicly available link that points to the AI generated content - https://chatgpt.com/share/66fb0ff3-7280-8009-93a9-d956f412390b.

If the prompt hasn't been included in the text, it can be included in the note as follows. If several prompts were used (as in an extended conversation) it may be summarized.

  1. Response to “Tell me how to fix a flat bicycle tire,” ChatGPT-4, OpenAI, September 30, 2024, https://chatgpt.com/share/66fb0ff3-7280-8009-93a9-d956f412390b.

  2. Number. Footnote or endnote number based on its sequence in the body of your text - 2.

  3. Prompt (Title), response to “Text prompt in quotes,” - Response to "Tell me how to fix a flat bicycle tire,"
  4. Author, Name and version of AI tool - ChatGPT-4,
  5. Publisher, Developer of AI tool - OpenAI,
  6. Date, Date content was generated, Month Day, Year - September 30, 2024,
  7. URL. Publicly available link that points to the AI generated content -https://chatgpt.com/share/66fb0ff3-7280-8009-93a9-d956f412390b.

Note - these added colours are just to assist in recognising the elements of the citation, they aren't to be used in a real reference!

Bibliography or Reference List

AI-generated Text (based on Chicago, 18th ed.)

AI-generated text is not usually listed in a bibliography or reference list, but if included, consider citing the AI conversation like a personal communication (e.g., emails, letters, text messages, etc. - see also CMOS 18:14.111). Cite the text under the name of the publisher or developer rather than the name of the tool and include a publicly available URL (see also CMOS 18:14.104).

Example:

OpenAI. Response to “Tell me how to fix a flat bicycle tire.” ChatGPT-4, September 30, 2024. https://chatgpt.com/share/66fb0ff3-7280-8009-93a9-d956f412390b.

AI-generated Images (based on Chicago, 18th ed.)

The source of your images should be credited, including those generated by AI tools (see also CMOS 18:3.30-38). Images are not usually listed in a bibliography or reference list, but if included, consider using the following format for AI-generated images.

Cite the image under the name of the publisher or developer rather than the name of the tool and include a publicly available URL (see also CMOS 18:14.104).

Example:

Microsoft. Response to “Cityscape at sunset in cubist style." Bing Image Creator, DALL-E 3, August 26, 2024. https://th.bing.com/th/id/OIG1.giyozqMtQv0gACrZ2CO_?pid=ImgGn.

Note - these added colours are just to assist in recognising the elements of the citation, they aren't to be used in a real reference!