How do I cite ChatGPT & Other AI Tools in Chicago Style?
Answer
This question has been updated to the 18th edition of Chicago Style. If you are using 17th edition, see this Library Handout, Purdue OWL, or contact a librarian.
As AI changes and develops, the answer to this may change or become outdated.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. If a citation is required, 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)
- Response to "Full text of prompt," AI Tool Name including version number, Company Name, Date of Prompt, URL.
- Response to “Describe a rose in 2 paragraphs,” ChatGPT-3.5, 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 including version number, Company Name, Date of Prompt, URL.
- Text generated by ChatGPT-3.5, OpenAI, September 26, 2023, chat.openai.com/chat.
For more information, see Chicago’s FAQ.
If you need further help, contact a librarian.