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University of Sunderland Library

Study Skills- Referencing

A guide to referencing and avoiding plagiarism

Referencing Gen-AI

 

Gen-AI is becoming a more frequently used tool used by students to assist with their studies. Our stand at the University of Sunderland on Gen-AI is an Assist-Not Do approach. However, your lecturer will specify how much or little Gen-AI use is accepted with each assignment.

Additionally, always check with your lecturer on how they want transparency of Gen-AI use presented as part of your assignment. As well as referencing this could include a signed declaration of Gen-AI usage and/ or an appendix of Gen-AI prompts and outputs.

Referencing Gen-AI Video

General Notes for Referencing Gen-AI

 

  1. Transparency is Key: Always acknowledge the use of AI tools in your work.
  2. Output Type Matters: Specify whether you're referencing the tool itself, the output it generated, or both.
  3. Adapt Guidance: Always cross-check against Cite Them Right (and select your correct referencing style for your assignment), as citation styles may update their guidelines for emerging technologies.
  4. FACT CHECK, FACT CHECK, FACT CHECK all AI outputs. Gen-AI is predicting results based on the information you put into it and its stored data, it does NOT know and is not always accurate. Do not rely on Gen-AI for research purposes.

Now, how do we reference Gen-AI?

 

There are two types of Gen-AI when it comes to referencing. The simplest way to know the difference of the two is to ask yourself – “can others access the Gen-AI output online?”. If they can access the Gen-AI image or article, then it should be referenced as a reusable online source like you would most online materials.

If others cannot access it, then treat it as personal communication. Be prepared that your academic may request an appendix which details your private conversation with the Gen-AI source for evidence of use.

Example Referencing

Harvard Referencing on Cite Them Right

When citing the AI created material available online:

Citation order:

  • Name of name of AI company
  • Year (in round brackets)
  • Title of work (in italics)
  • [Medium]
  • Available at: DOI or URL (Accessed: date)

In-text citation:
(OpenAI, 2024)

Reference list:
OpenAI (2024) An update on disrupting deceptive uses of AI [Online article]. Available at: https://openai.com/global-affairs/an-update-on-disrupting-deceptive-uses-of-ai/ (Accessed: 15 December 2024).

When citing AI-generated output

  • Treat it as a personal communication if it’s unique to your input, as it may not be reproducible.
  • Include an in-text citation and reference.
  • You may be required to include an appendix of your Gen-AI conversation which includes prompts and outputs as part of a separate appendix (check with your academic).

Citation order:

  • Name of AI
  • Year of communication (in round brackets)
  • Medium of communication
  • Receiver of communication
  • Day/month of communication

In-text citation:
When prompted by the author, ChatGPT responded with an answer to ‘ways of disrupting deceptive uses of AI’ (OpenAI ChatGPT, 2024). A copy of this response is in Appendix A.

Reference list:
OpenAI ChatGPT (2024) ChatGPT response to Peter Jones, 15 December.

 

When citing AI-generated output created by your prompts but also available to your reader

When prompted by the author, ChatGPT responded with an answer to ‘ways of disrupting deceptive uses of AI’ (OpenAI ChatGPT, 2024). A copy . A copy of this response is in Appendix A If the content is available to your reader through a shareable URL provided by the program, or websites such as A.I. Archives (https://aiarchives.org), or an online repository, or cloud drive such as Google Drive, OneDrive or iCloud, use this citation order.

Citation order:

  • Name of AI company
  • Year (in round brackets)
  • AI-generated [medium] by ... with prompt '...'
  • Day/ month
  • Available at: DOI or URL (Accessed: date)

In-text citation:
When prompted for the advantages of CIOs, Google (2024) listed the following: …

Reference list:

Google (2024) AI-generated text by Gemini with prompt ‘In the UK what are the advantages of an organisation becoming a charitable incorporated organisation (CIO)? Provide references to support the advantages’, 23 May. Available at: https://aiarchives.org/id/pEBovpbrWSXwNXJ1MRnr (Accessed: 31 May 2024).

APA Referencing (7th Edition) on Cite Them Right

When citing AI-generated output

  • APA advises treating AI-generated content as a software or algorithm.
  • You may be required to include an appendix of your Gen-AI conversation which includes prompts and outputs as part of a separate appendix (check with your academic).

Citation order:

  • Author of AI program
  • Year of the program version used (in round brackets)
  • Name of AI (as the title, in italics)
  • Version, if applicable (in round brackets)
  • Description of program (for context, in square brackets)
  • Publisher, if different from the author
  • URL, if applicable

 

In-Text Citation:

When prompted by the author, ChatGPT responded with a ‘summary of ethics around generative AI ’ (OpenAI, 2023). A copy of this response is in Appendix 1.

Reference List Example:

OpenAI. (2023). ChatGPT (May 12 version) [Generative AI language model]. https://chat.openai.com

If Including an Appendix:

You can title the appendix like this:
Appendix A: ChatGPT Conversation Transcript
Include both the prompts you used and the AI-generated responses.

Vancouver Referencing on Cite Them Right

Citing Medicine does not provide guidance on the use of generative AI in academic work. There is consensus, however, that generative AI cannot be regarded as an author or creator of content because it cannot be held accountable for the information produced, nor are the results generally available for fact checking by other researchers. Check with your module leader on Gen-AI usage and be transparent on any use in your own work.

When citing AI-generated output

Cite Them Rite advises treating AI-Generated content as a personal communication which should be noted in your text and not in the referencing list.

  • Provide the name of the AI
  • The date of the conversation
  • Note that it will not be included in your reference list by including the word unreferenced.

You may be required to include an appendix of your Gen-AI conversation which includes prompts and outputs as part of a separate appendix (check with your academic).

In-text citation:

When prompted by the author, OpenAI’s ChatGPT provided an 'overview of key concerns around ethical implications of AI in education' (2024 Feb 6, unreferenced). A transcript of this conversation can be found in Appendix A.

 

If you are referring to an AI program, use the format for computer programs/games and mobile apps.

Reference list

Google AI. Gemini. Version 2024.03.04 [software]. Mountain View, CA: Google Inc. 2023 Mar 21 [cited 2024 May 3]. Available from: https://gemini.google.com/app

OSCOLA Referencing on Cite Them Right

OSCOLA does not provide guidance on acknowledgement of AI use as AI is not considered a reliable source when it comes to factual information in Law. Check with your module leader on AI usage and be be transparent if you are using AI to plan or develop your work. Cite Them Right recommends the following method to cite AI:

  • AI Company
  • Name of AI program
  • Response to Prompt
  • Summary of Prompt (in single quotation marks)
  • Date (in round brackets)
  • If a shareable URL is available, include this

 

Footnote:

Response to prompt ‘What is the law in the UK about prisoners’ voting rights?’ (15 June 2024) <https://aiarchives.org/id/bcNeHsuWJAohas3JRn3