How to Cite ChatGPT in MLA
As artificial intelligence becomes more prevalent in our daily lives, it’s essential to properly cite AI-generated content, just as we would with content written by humans. ChatGPT, an AI language model developed by OpenAI, is a popular tool for generating human-like text based on prompts given to it. When using content generated by ChatGPT in an academic or professional context, it’s important to follow the guidelines set forth by the Modern Language Association (MLA) for citing online sources.
Here is a step-by-step guide on how to cite ChatGPT in MLA format:
Author: Since ChatGPT is an AI language model, it does not have a traditional human author. In this case, the author would be OpenAI, the organization behind ChatGPT.
Title of the ChatGPT model: If you are specifically referencing the GPT-3 model, you would cite it as “GPT-3” as the title. If you are using a different version or variant of ChatGPT, make sure to reference the specific title (e.g., “ChatGPT” or “GPT-2”).
Title of the Webpage or Platform: If the content was generated on a specific platform or website, such as the OpenAI website or a third-party service using ChatGPT, use that as the title.
Website Name: OpenAI would be the website name if you are using content generated by ChatGPT from their website. If using a different platform, make sure to include the name of the platform.
Publisher: OpenAI can be listed as the publisher, as they are the organization responsible for developing and maintaining ChatGPT.
Date of Publication: If there is a specific date associated with the content generated by ChatGPT, include it. If not, you can use the year the specific model was released or the last date the content was updated on the platform.
URL: Provide the URL of the specific webpage or platform where the content was generated. If the content is only available through interaction with the AI model and does not have a specific URL, you can omit this part.
In-text citation: When referencing content generated by ChatGPT within the text of your paper, you can use in-text citations with the organization name or the title of the specific model.
Example of the citation in the Works Cited:
OpenAI. “GPT-3.” OpenAI, 2020, www.openai.com/gpt-3/.
In-text citation:
(OpenAI)
Following the guidelines above will ensure that you properly acknowledge the source of AI-generated content and give credit to the organization behind ChatGPT. As AI continues to play a significant role in content creation, it’s important to stay updated on citation guidelines to ensure ethical and accurate academic and professional practices.
