How to Properly Cite AI-Generated Content

Citing AI-Generated Content

Generative AI can be used in many ways and take different forms. For example, it can help produce lists for brainstorming, act as a grammar checker, and even create rough drafts of text. However, in some circumstances, it can be misleading to take the content generated by AI and present it as your own. A helpful way to think about it is this: AI should be cited when its content is used as a product rather than a tool.

What does it mean for AI-generated content to be a product?

AI-generated content is considered a product when a substantial portion of the content is featured in the final product, even if the user extensively edits it. As an example, imagine a student having to write a paper for an English class. If that student asks an AI model for potential paper topics and then uses one of those suggestions to develop their own topic, the AI model has merely acted as a brainstorming tool. Therefore, it is acceptable to continue without citing the AI model. However, if the student directly uses one of the AI-generated topics in their paper (either verbatim or with changes to the phrasing), they would need to cite the AI model as a source. In this case, the AI model has gone beyond serving as a tool and has become part of the final work product. In short, if the AI model helps a user in generating their own content and ideas, citation isn’t necessary, but if the AI model’s content or ideas appear in the final product, a citation is required.

How do I cite an AI model?

This depends on the type of work product created by the user. If AI is used in the generation of an informal document like an email, then all that is necessary is to acknowledge somewhere in the text that AI was used in its development and which AI model was used (e.g. “This email was edited for style and content by GPT-4o”). However, on more official documents, it is necessary to use a more detailed citation. The in-text citation below serves as a good example. 

(GPT-4o, “Rewrite this document so that it would fit on one page.” OpenAI, June 1, 2024)

Be sure to include the name of the AI model, the name of the prompt used, the company to which the AI model belongs, and the date that the content was generated.

What about non-text mediums, like photos, video, and audio?

Photos and videos must have a clear watermark indicating that the following content was generated by AI. Any audio including AI-generated sound must include an audio disclaimer notifying listeners that some or all of the recording was generated with AI.