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Referencing style - APA 7th: Generative Artificial Intelligence (AI)

A guide to using the APA 7th edition referencing system for in-text citations and reference lists.

Generative Artificial Intelligence (AI)

You will need to confirm with your Unit Coordinator whether you are permitted to use Generative Artificial Intelligence (AI) such as ChatGPT in your assessments.   Please check your unit outline to confirm if there are any specific guidelines for referencing AI for your unit.  If it is used ALL the content that is generated must be referenced.

April 2023 Update:

 APA has provided guidelines for referencing generative AI content / text output in APA 7:

Material Type In- Text Citation Reference List & Notes

Software

Generative Artificial Intelligence (AI) tools  

(eg. ChatGPT)

...as generated by the generative AI program (OpenAI, 2023)

According to OpenAI (2023) ChatGPT states that the 
relationship between language and psychology...

 OpenAI. (2023). ChatGTP (Mar 14 version) [Large language model].
           https:chat.openai.com/chat 

Please note: The information in this guide is subject to change as guidance on referencing AI tools continues to evolve.

See the APA Style Blog for more information and examples. 

See the APA 7 Publication manual for more information on citing Computer Software, Mobile Apps, Apparatuses, and Equipment.

Here are some guidelines for referencing AI generated images using APA 7:

AI generated image - attribution required

To include an image in your work, that you have created using an AI tool, you need to provide an acknowledgment. You need to add a Figure number in bold, a Brief Title above the image in italics and an attribution in a Note area below the image. The word Note should be in italics. This needs to include the prompt you used to create the image. 

You don't need to provide an end-text reference for an image you produced with an AI tool. 

Figure 1

A Robot Conducting Research in a Library

Note. Image generated using Copilot Designer. The image was generated in response to this prompt: 'Create an image that encapsulates how to find the best evidence in a Library. Do not include any people in the image'. 

Copied AI generated image from a published source - attribution required

If you would like to use an AI generated image, that has come from a published source, then you will need to ensure that an acknowledgment is included. You need to include a Figure number in bold and a Brief Title above the image in italics. Further attribution should be included in a Note below the figure. The word Note should be in italics. 

You will also need to provide an end-text reference, for the image you want to use, that comes from a published source. For this image, the end-text reference would be:

Attard, M., Davis, M., & Main, L. (2023). Gen AI and journalism. 

Centre for Media Transition, University of Technology Sydney, Australia. https://www.uts.edu.au/sites/default/files/2023-12/GEN%20AI%20and%20Journalism_web%20version.pdf 

 

Figure 1

Robots Masquerading as Journalists

Note. Robots attempting to produce articles. From: Gen AI and journalism, by Attard et al., 2023, https://www.uts.edu.au/sites/default/files/2023-12/GEN%20AI%20and%20Journalism_web%20version.pdf 

 

Please note: We wish to advise that the advice on referencing AI art is "interim guidance". There is currently no specific rule for referencing AI art in accordance with APA 7 and the information provided is not officially part of the APA 7 guide. The information provided is subject to change, as guidance on referencing AI art continues to evolve. 

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 Except for logos, Canva designs or where otherwise indicated, content in this guide is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International Licence.