Citing AI content is essential for maintaining academic integrity, transparency, and intellectual honesty. Just as with any other source, acknowledging the use of AI-generated content helps to avoid plagiarism, allows others to trace the origin of ideas, and provides credit to the creators of the AI tools. Additionally, it informs the audience about the nature of the content, which can influence the interpretation and credibility of the work being presented. AI work should be cited in the following scenarios:
When AI generated content contributes directly to your work, be it text, images, etc. similar to any other source that would be cited.
When AI is used to summarize or paraphrase, remember that paraphrasing is still using someone else's work to enhance your own.
When AI provides insights or influences conclusions or the work's direction.
Below is a list of the APA, MLA, and Chicago-style citation guides for AI-generated text and images. However, some educators and Centers for Teaching and Learning are recommending more than just citations to indicate when AI is being used to create content. Other methods for students to show how AI is being used in their work include:
1. Appendix
How it Works: Students include an appendix at the end of their paper where they document all instances of AI usage, detailing the specific AI tools used, the prompts they used, and the generated responses.
Example: In the appendix, students would provide:
AI Tool: ChatGPT
Prompt: "Summarize the main themes of George Orwell's '1984'."
Generated Response: A brief summary of the themes generated by the AI will be copied and pasted here.
2. Copying and Pasting AI Prompts and Responses
How it Works: Students copy and paste the exact AI prompts they used and the corresponding responses directly into their work. This can be included in footnotes, endnotes, or an appendix.
Example:
Prompt: "Explain the significance of the symbol of the green light in 'The Great Gatsby'."
Response: The green light in 'The Great Gatsby' symbolizes Gatsby's hopes and dreams for the future. It represents his desire for Daisy and the American Dream.
3. Inline Citations
How it Works: Students use inline citations to indicate where and how AI tools contributed to their writing. This method requires students to clearly mark AI-generated content within the text.
Example:
"The green light in 'The Great Gatsby' symbolizes Gatsby's hopes and dreams for the future (OpenAI, 2023)."
4. Separate Section for AI Contributions
How it Works: Students create a separate section within their paper specifically dedicated to discussing how AI tools were used in their research and writing process.
Example:
Section Title: Use of AI Tools
Content: "For this paper, I used ChatGPT to generate initial summaries of key themes in the literature reviewed. The AI provided concise summaries which were then expanded upon with additional scholarly sources."
5. Footnotes
How it Works: Students use footnotes to document AI usage throughout their paper. Each instance of AI-generated content is marked with a footnote that provides details on the AI tool used and the prompt given.
Example:
"The character of Macbeth is driven by ambition and power.^1"
Footnote: ^1This analysis was generated using ChatGPT with the prompt "Analyze the character of Macbeth in Shakespeare's play."
6. Screenshots of AI Interactions
How it Works: Students include screenshots of their interactions with AI tools. This visual evidence can be added as an appendix or within the main body of the text.
Example: A screenshot showing the prompt and AI-generated response, with a caption explaining the context and how it was used in their writing.
Text Generated by AI:
OpenAI. (2023). ChatGPT (June 2023 version) [Large language model]. Available from https://chat.openai.com/
In Text Citation:
(OpenAI, 2023).
Text Generated by AI:
OpenAI. ChatGPT, version June 2023, OpenAI, 2023, https://chat.openai.com/.
In Text Citation:
(OpenAI).
Text Generated by AI:
OpenAI. "ChatGPT (June 2023 version)." OpenAI, 2023. https://chat.openai.com/.
In Text Citation:
(OpenAI 2023).
Incorporating AI Use Statements into assignment and writing guidelines ensures transparency, fosters ethical practices and maintains academic integrity. With the increasing availability of AI tools, it is essential for students to communicate how these technologies have been used in their work. These statements:
Promote Honesty: Requiring students to disclose their use of AI tools encourages a culture of honesty and openness in academic work.
Clarify Intent: An AI Use Statement helps instructors understand the extent to which AI contributed to the assignment, distinguishing between student-generated and AI-assisted work.
Encourage Ethical Use: By mandating AI disclosures, educators can guide students toward using AI responsibly and appropriately, ensuring it complements rather than replaces their own efforts.
Provide Context: AI Use Statements offer valuable context for assessing assignments, allowing instructors to consider how AI may have shaped the final product.
How to Include AI Use Statements
Here are steps to guide students in crafting and including AI Use Statements in their assignments:
Establish Expectations
Clearly outline in the syllabus or assignment guidelines when and how students may use AI tools.
Specify that AI Use Statements are required for any work where AI tools were utilized.
Content of the Statement Students should include:
The AI Tool Used: Name the tool(s) (e.g., ChatGPT, Grammarly, DALL-E) and the version if applicable.
The Task or Purpose: Describe how the AI was used (e.g., for brainstorming, summarizing text, generating images, or proofreading).
Extent of AI Contribution: Explain the scope of AI assistance in the final product.
Placement of the Statement
Include the AI Use Statement as a separate section at the end of the assignment, similar to a bibliography or appendix.
For shorter works, the statement can be a footnote or part of the conclusion.
Example AI Use Statement
"For this assignment, I used ChatGPT (June 2024 version) to brainstorm ideas for the structure of my essay and generate a summary of two academic articles. All generated content was reviewed and edited to align with my own understanding and perspective."
"I used Grammarly for grammar and style suggestions in this report. No content was rewritten by AI, but technical errors were corrected based on its recommendations."
Assessment and Feedback
Review AI Use Statements as part of the grading process to ensure compliance and encourage proper attribution.
Provide feedback on the responsible and ethical use of AI in assignments.
By requiring and reviewing AI Use Statements, educators can guide students to use AI tools as partners in learning, while maintaining the integrity and originality of their academic work.
Below are three mock assignment AI use statements, tailored for a writing task, a reflection task, and a research task. Each includes specific AI tools recommended for use, alongside guidelines for citing AI contributions. These statements and guidelines ensure students utilize AI tools effectively while maintaining academic integrity and fostering a deeper engagement with their assignments. These mock assignments were created using ChatGTP4o.
Topic: Analyze the Impact of Climate Change on Marine Biodiversity
AI Use Statement:
In this assignment, you are encouraged to use ChatGPT to help brainstorm and outline your paper. You may also use Grammarly to assist with grammar checks and style suggestions. However, the final analysis and argumentation must be your original work. AI-generated text should be used for initial drafts and idea generation only.
How to Cite AI Work:
If you use ChatGPT for drafting any part of your paper, include an APA citation in your bibliography and in the text to show where AI was used.
Then include an appendix with the copied and pasted prompts and AI responses you used in your paper with a 1-2 sentence summary of how each prompt contributed to your paper.
For Grammarly, simply note in your acknowledgments:
Grammar checking and stylistic suggestions aided by Grammarly on [specific date(s) of use].
Topic: Reflect on the Ethical Implications of AI in Healthcare
AI Use Statement:
You are permitted to use AI Dungeon to simulate conversations with a virtual ethicist to explore different viewpoints on AI in healthcare. This should help you form a nuanced perspective on ethical dilemmas healthcare professionals face. Actual content creation should be solely your reflective thoughts, influenced but not directly dictated by the AI.
How to Cite AI Work:
After your reflection, include a citation as follows:
AI Dungeon by Latitude. "Simulated conversation with a virtual ethicist." Interaction on [specific date].
Topic: The Role of AI in Modern Education Systems
AI Use Statement:
For this research assignment, use Semantic Scholar to gather relevant scholarly articles and QuillBot to help paraphrase or summarize findings where necessary. Ensure that the insights derived from AI tools are integrated into your analysis but are critically evaluated and synthesized in your own words.
How to Cite AI Work:
In your bibliography, cite AI tool usage like this:
Semantic Scholar for literature retrieval conducted on [specific date(s)].
QuillBot used for paraphrasing on [specific date(s)], [specific sections or pages].
Include an AI use statement outlining how the AI tools contributed to the final version of your paper.
Disclaimer: The content within this compendium was co-created using AI programs ChatGTP and Claude Sonnet. For more information on the co-construction of knowledge using AI, please see this resource by Robertson et al. 2024 and the AI uses in Education Page.