How do I cite ChatGPT & Other AI Tools in Chicago Style?
Answer
As AI changes and develops, the answer to this may change or become outdated.
This is Chicago’s guidance as of March 2025:
Chicago does not require a citation for content generated by ChatGPT and other AI tools. Mentioning it as the source of content within your work is enough; for example: ChatGPT created the following poem.
While this is Chicago’s guidance, check with your professor about whether they require a citation for content created by AI tools. Most will likely require a citation so here is what Chicago recommends:
- Only create a footnote, not a bibliography citation for this content
- Treat the AI tool as the author of the content
- The words, response to, followed by the prompt will be the title unless included in the text
- The company that created the AI tool should be the publisher
- Include the date of the content’s creation
- Finish with a link to the tool’s main website. As of now there is no way to create a specific link to AI generated materials. This is considered optional.
Footnote with Prompt Included (meaning it is not in the text of your writing)
- AI Tool Name, response to “Full Text of Prompt,” Company Name, Date of Prompt, URL.
- ChatGPT, response to “Describe a rose in 2 paragraphs,” OpenAI, September 26, 2023, chat.openai.com/chat.
Footnote without Prompt Included (prompt should appear in text in quotes)
- Text generated by AI Tool Name, Company Name, Date of Prompt, URL.
- Text generated by ChatGPT, OpenAI, September 26, 2023, chat.openai.com/chat.
For more information, see Chicago’s FAQ.
If you need further help, contact a librarian.