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Gateway - Artificial Intelligence (AI) Literacy

Before You Start Citing

Get into the habit of disclosing the use of AI tools

  • See examples below on how to cite AI generators in various citation styles
  • Do not claim any AI-generated content as your own work. This is academic dishonesty and would be considered plagiarism
  • AI generators like ChatGPT should never be considered a primary source. Always check the information in authoritative sources like those sources found in library databases
  • Since AI tools cannot be considered an author (established by Thaler v. Perlmutter on August 18, 2023), they should not be considered a source. Instead, they are generally considered a collaborator
  • Get into the habit of keeping the transcript of your prompts and the responses. Consider attaching the history to assignments as an appendix to be transparent about your use of AI

Check the facts! Evaluate AI-generated content

Any content created by artificial intelligence should be carefully evaluated. Artificial intelligence can produce false or biased results and use outdated information. Use the TRAAP test to help you evaluate content generated by AI. At a minimum, ask yourself the following questions:

  • AI can demonstrate bias. Is there any slant or bias to the content?
  • Where did this information come from? Can you fact-check any claims in an alternative source?
  • Do not ask for AI to show sources as they can be false. Instead, check any facts or data yourself in alternative sources like library databases 
  • Evaluate AI created content for Timeliness, Relevancy, Authority, Accuracy, Purpose

 

Citing Generative AI in MLA and APA Formats

MLA Citation

Citing AI depends on how you are using it. AI should not be considered an author. For more information see MLA’s style site.

Always check your syllabus to see what your professor’s policy on AI is. If it’s not on the syllabus, just ask.

Works Cited Format: In-text Citation:

Quoting Text:

“Describe the symbolism of the green light in the book The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald” prompt. ChatGPT, 13 Feb. version, OpenAI, 8 Mar. 2023, chat.openai.com/chat

 

 

(“Describe the symbolism”)

 

Paraphrasing text:

“In 200 words, describe the symbolism of the green light in The Great Gatsby” follow-up prompt to list sources. ChatGPT, 13 Feb. version, OpenAI, 4 Mar. 2023, chat.openai.com/chat.

 

(“In 200 words”)

Citing creative visual works:

“Pointillist painting of a sheep in a sunny field of blue flowers” prompt, DALL-E, version 2, OpenAI, 14 Mar. 2023, labs.openai.com/.

(“Pointillist painting”)

Quoting Creative Textual Works:

“The Sunflower” villanelle about a sunflower. ChatGPT, 14 Mar. version, OpenAI, 8 Mar. 2023, chat.openai.com/chat.

(“The Sunflower”)

Citing Secondary Sources Used by an AI Tool:

Cite it as that particular book, article, website, etc.

 

APA Citation

For more information see the APA’s style site

Always check your syllabus to see what your professor’s policy on AI is. If it’s not on the syllabus, just ask.

Reference List Format:    In-text Citation:

OpenAI. (2023). ChatGPT (Mar 14 version) [Large language model].

https://chat.openai.com/chat

  (OpenAI, 2023) 

 

 

Sourc:  Di-Menna-Nyselius Library, Fairfield University,