Note: Generative artificial intelligence (AI) tools are changing rapidly as will citation advice. We recommend checking this FAQ regularly.
The use of generative AI is not permitted in some subjects.
Requirements can also vary for assignments in the same subject. If unsure or if the subject requirements are not clear, please check your Subject Outline and confirm with your Subject Coordinator.
Using generative AI without following subject or task instructions on generative AI use may be regarded as academic misconduct. See Western’s Academic Integrity Guidelines for more information.
When you refer to content produced by generative AI tools, such as ChatGPT, you must acknowledge the source of information by citing it correctly.
Where the use of generative AI is permitted, please refer to points 1-3 below to acknowledge the use of generative AI for different purposes.
Also, use the referencing examples provided throughout this FAQ along with the referencing style guidelines for your referencing style.
If you are permitted to use generative AI, be aware that:
- You should check your Subject Outline and confirm with your Subject Coordinator before using generative AI.
- Be ready to provide details of the generative AI tools you have used and how you have used them. You may be asked to include examples of your prompts and responses from generative AI or details of how you used the output of generative AI. See examples below for your citation style.
- It is not usually appropriate to use generative AI as a primary source of information for an assignment. It is advisable to cite scholarly, peer-reviewed, and credible sources.
- The output of generative AI tools may not be reliable. You should critically evaluate the output of generative AI tools before using.
- Content from some generative AI tools is ‘non-recoverable’. When you prompt a generative AI tool, the output will be different each time you, or another user, enters the same prompts. For some tools, you are not able to provide a link to the content you have generated. In some subjects or assessment tasks you will not be required to cite non-recoverable sources, but you will be asked to show how you have used them.
- Where the output of generative AI refers to other sources, these should be checked for accuracy.
1. Acknowledge text output from a generative AI tool
Text output from generative AI is different to other academic sources and should not be cited in the same way as a human author. As the source of information is not recoverable by the reader, describe the prompt (the question you asked) and / or content generated by AI in your writing. Be precise with the date it was created.
1. Check if non-recoverable sources need to be cited and included in the reference list.
2. If yes, follow the examples below for your citation style.
Note: If required in the assessment instructions, provide further details of the generative AI output in an appendix or supplemental materials.
2. Acknowledge images from a generative AI tool
Recommendations for acknowledging AI generated images vary between reference styles. You will also use a different format depending on whether you generated the image, or you are using a generative AI image from another source.
1. Check if non-recoverable sources need to be cited and included in the reference list.
2. If yes, follow the examples below for your citation style.
Referencing Examples
Citing text output
APA 7
In-text citation
Use the AI Model’s creator (e.g. OpenAI) as the author.
Format
or
Author (Year)
Example
or
OpenAI (2023) indicated that…
Reference list
Provide the name of the AI Model (e.g. ChatGPT) as the title. If you’re using ChatGPT, the version number includes the month and day as this is how OpenAI is labelling versions. Different descriptions may be needed for later versions of ChatGPT and other AI Models.
Format
Example
Harvard WesternSydU
In-text citation
Use the AI Creator and Model (e.g. OpenAI ChatGPT) as the author.
Format
or
Author (personal communication, Day Month Year)
Example
or
OpenAI ChatGPT (personal communication, 16 January 2023) indicated that...
Reference list
References to generative AI content are only cited in-text and not included in the reference list.
MLA 8
In-text citation
Format
Example
Works Cited list
Use the AI Tool (e.g. ChatGPT) in the usual title position in italics. If you’re using ChatGPT, the version number includes the day and month as this is how OpenAI is labelling versions. Include the name of the AI creator (e.g. OpenAI) as the publisher.
Format
Example
Vancouver
In-text citation
Use the AI Creator and Model (e.g. OpenAI ChatGPT) as the author and include 'unreferenced' after the date.
Format
or
Author (Year Month Day; unreferenced)
Example
or
OpenAI ChatGPT (2023 Jan 16; unreferenced) indicated that...
Reference list
References to generative AI content are only cited in-text and not included in the reference list.
Chicago 17
Footnote
Use the name of the AI Model (e.g. ChatGPT) as the author and the AI Model's creator (e.g. OpenAI) as the publisher.
Format
Example
Note: If the details of the prompt are not included in the text, you can include it in the note.
Format
Example
Bibliography
References to generative AI content are only cited in footnotes because they cannot be retrieved by anyone else. All details are provided in the footnote only. These are not listed in the Bibliography.
AGLC 4
Footnote
Use the name of the AI Program (e.g. ChatGPT) and the AI Program’s creator (e.g. OpenAI) as the author.
Format
Example
Bibliography
Format
Example
Citing images
If an AI generated image is included in your work, please follow the examples below for your referencing style.
APA 7
Include a figure number (e.g., Figure 1) in bold above the image. The title of the image is placed underneath the figure number in italics using title case. Figures are numbered in the order that they are cited in-text. E.g., Figure 1 shows an AI generated image of...
Place a note underneath the image to include the name of the AI model, version (if applicable), and the text prompt.
Format
Title
Note. The image was generated using [AI Model] ([AI Model Creator], Version) with the prompt "text prompt."
Example
Figure 1
An AI Generated Image of an Eel From the Parramatta River
If you are using an AI image reproduced in another source (e.g, book), cite the published source of the image and format the reference according to the guidelines in the APA 7 Referencing Guide.
While a reference list entry is not required, please check your Subject Outline and confirm with your Subject Coordinator.
Harvard WesternSydU
Ensure that the image is labelled properly by including a figure number followed by a title, in bold, above the image. Place a note underneath the image including the name of the AI Model and the prompt used to generate the image.
Format
Note: Image generated using [AI Model] using the prompt [text prompt].
Example
Note: Image generated using Adobe Firefly using the prompt eel from Parramatta River, NSW Australia.
If you are using an AI image reproduced in another source, follow the standard guidelines in the Harvard WesternSydU Referencing Guide.
A reference list for AI generated images is not required.
MLA 8
A caption is provided immediately underneath the image starting with a figure number (e.g., Fig. 1). Include the prompt, followed by the AI tool, version, and date the image was generated.
Format
Fig. Number. "Text prompt" prompt, [AI Tool], version, Publisher, Day Month. Year, URL.
Example
Fig. 13. "An AI generated image of an eel from the Parramatta River” prompt, Adobe Firefly, version 3, Adobe, 27 Aug. 2024, new.express.adobe.com/.
You can use the caption information to create a Works Cited list entry. Please refer to the MLA 8 'Works Cited list' advice in this FAQ under Citing text output.
Vancouver
Include a figure number (e.g. Figure 1) and an explanatory caption underneath the image noting that the work is generated using an AI tool, as well as the prompt used and the date it was generated.
Format
Figure Number. Title of image. Image generated using [AI Model] from the prompt ‘text prompt’, Month Day, Year.
Example
Figure 1. AI image of an eel swimming in Parramatta River. Image generated using Google Gemini from the prompt ‘image of an eel from the Parramatta River, NSW Australia’, March 1, 2024.
Information generated from AI is considered a personal communication as it may not be recoverable. Therefore, the image reference should not be numbered and not included in the reference list.
If you are including an AI image reproduced in another source, format the reference according to the guidelines for images. Please check the Vancouver Referencing Guide for further information.
Chicago 17
A caption is provided immediately underneath the image starting with a figure number, followed by the prompt used, name of the AI model and the date the image was generated. You can refer to images in your text by the figure number e.g. "…see Figure 1" or ..."(fig. 1)".
Format
Fig. Number. "Text prompt," image generated by [AI Model], Month Day, Year.
Example
Fig. 1. "An eel in the Parramatta River," image generated by Adobe Firefly, August 29, 2024.
If you refer to the image in your text and a formal footnote is required, please refer to the Citing text output advice in this FAQ for Chicago 17 (second footnote format and example). A bibliography entry is not required.
AGLC 4
Include a figure number (e.g. Figure 1) and an explanatory caption underneath the image noting that the work is generated using an AI tool and the prompt used.
Format
Figure Number. Image generated using [AI Program] from the prompt ‘text prompt’
Example
Figure 1. Image generated using Adobe Firefly from the prompt ‘eel from the Parramatta River, NSW Australia’
No footnote or bibliography entry is required, however, if you are using an AI image reproduced in another source (e.g. book), cite the published source of the image using a numbered footnote at the end of the caption with source details at the respective footnote, along with a bibliography entry. Please check the AGLC 4 Referencing Guide for further information on citing published sources.
3. Acknowledge the use of generative AI to generate ideas, analyse data, solve problems, or provide significant feedback on your writing
Where generative AI use for these purposes is permitted, it would not be appropriate to cite the use of generative AI in the same way that you would cite other academic sources.
Checklist
1. Use the method for acknowledging the use of generative AI as required by your Subject Coordinator. This may be an acknowledgements section and/or an appendix or online form.
2. Provide details on what tool/s you used and how you used the tool/s.
3. Depending on the assessment requirements, include:
* Name and version of the generative AI tool(s).
* Month and year that you accessed the AI tool(s).
* Information about how you used the AI tool(s) in your assignment (e.g. prompts, responses from generative AI, examples of your own work and feedback provided by generative AI, details of where in your assignment you used generative AI).
If you are required to include a statement on the use of generative AI in your work, please refer to the 'Acknowledgement of using Generative AI Statement' document linked at the bottom of this FAQ for examples.
These guidelines have been informed by advice from TEQSA, Western Sydney University referencing guides, referencing guidelines from official writing styles, and guides from other universities including Deakin University, Monash University, RMIT, and University of Queensland.