Generative AI tools like ChatGPT are everywhere – including in the writing process for student papers. Whether you’re using AI to brainstorm, explain a complex topic, or generate a few sentences, one thing is clear: you have to cite it properly.
The APA Style has spoken and it's the right way to stay out of plagiarism trouble. Here’s how to give credit where credit is due – even when it’s a robot.
First: Ask Before You Use It
Before citing ChatGPT or any other AI tool, check your instructor’s policy. Some classes welcome AI support; others forbid it entirely. And yes – using it without approval could violate your school’s academic integrity policy.
When in doubt? Ask.
If You Include AI-Generated Text in Your Paper…
Let’s say you asked ChatGPT a question and included some of its response in your paper. According to the APA, that content needs to be cited like software – because it’s the output of an algorithm, not a person. Unlike some of the earliest guidance around generative AI (suggesting it could be cited like a personal communication), the latest instructions from the APA Style Blog require that it should be cited in the body and include a reference at the end of yourpaper.
📌 In-Text Citation Example (APA 7th Edition):
"The notion that people are left- or right-brained is a popular myth” (OpenAI, 2025).
📘 Reference List Entry:
OpenAI. (2025). ChatGPT-4 (June 2024 version) [Large language model]. https://chatgpt.com/
💡 Pro Tip: In the reference, include the version you used (with date) and describe it in brackets as a “large language model.”
Where to Explain How You Used AI
If AI helped you in your research or idea development (but you’re not directly quoting it), APA recommends describing that in your paper – typically in the Method section, Introduction, or Acknowledgments.
Example:
Portions of this paper were generated with the assistance of ChatGPT, a large language model developed by OpenAI. The final content was reviewed and revised by the author.
If you include longer responses from ChatGPT, consider placing them in an appendix or supplemental materials so readers can see the exact text generated. Since ChatGPT’s output changes with every session, documenting what you received is key to transparency.
Building the a ChatGPT Reference in PERRLA
Here at PERRLA , we're in the process of adding Generative AI into the PERRLA Reference engine , but you can already cite ChatGPT & other AI's using PERRLA's Gray Literature reference type. (Gray Literature can function as a blank template for many types of unusual references)
Here's how:
- When creating the reference, select Gray Literature for the reference type
- Enter the following information in the PERRLA Reference form:
Group Author (Organization): The name of the company responsible for building the AI (e.g., OpenAI)
Title of the Word: the name of the AI model plus the version in parentheses (e.g., ChatGPT-4 (June 2024version))
Format or Type: The kind of AI model you are citing (e.g., Large language model)
URL: The url for the page where you interacted with the AI (e.g., https://chatgpt.com/) - Once you've entered the information, you can click "Next", then "Create" to add the reference to your library
Now you can cite your reference using PERRLA's References & Citations panel. Once we release the revised PERRLA reference engine, we'll update these instructions to keep you up to date.
Things To Avoid
- ❌ Don’t try to hide it (if you use AI, avoid plagiarism trouble by giving credit where it's due)
- ❌ Don’t cite ChatGPT as a website, article, or personal communication
- ❌ Don’t skip citation just because the AI didn’t provide sources (its sources are often wrong anyway)
And yes – always verify any references or claims it gives you. ChatGPT is a smart tool, but it occasionally makes up sources with very convincing fake citations. Trust, but verify.
TL;DR – How to Cite ChatGPT in APA
- ✔ Quote ChatGPT like you would any software: in-text + reference entry
- ✔ Use PERRLA to generate your reference
- ✔ Describe how you used AI tools in your paper (Method, Introduction, or Acknowledgments)
- ✔ Don’t treat ChatGPT as a person or a website
- ✔ Always double-check instructor guidelines and verify sources