Citing ChatGPT and AI in MLA Format

Introduction to Using To Using ChatGPT in MLA Style

The intersection of artificial intelligence (AI) and academia is bringing forth a new wave of innovation and efficiency. AI tools like OpenAI’s ChatGPT are increasingly becoming a part of the research, assisting scholars in various tasks. However, as we delve deeper into using AI tools in academic work, a question often arises: How to cite these tools accurately in MLA format? This guide explores the nuances of citing AI, particularly ChatGPT, in academic papers following the MLA citation style.

How to Cite Generative AI in MLA Format

Citing artificial intelligence (AI) in Modern Language Association (MLA) format is a relatively new venture that amalgamates the process of citing a digital source and a corporate author. The unique challenge arises due to the lack of a conventional author, as the “creator” of the work is an AI. As such, the general rule of thumb when citing AI tools like ChatGPT in MLA is to leave the “author” field blank.

Understanding the MLA Citation Format

Before we delve into the specifics of citing AI in MLA format, it’s crucial to have a firm grasp of the general MLA citation format. The MLA style uses a two-part system for citing sources: parenthetical citation in the main text and a Works Cited page that follows the paper.

In the main text, you’ll provide brief source references (usually the author’s last name and the page number) in parentheses right after the information you’re citing. The Works Cited page will contain the complete details of all sources you referred to in your paper.

The standard format for an MLA citation is as follows:

Last Name, First Name. Title of Book. Publisher, Publication Date.

For a webpage, the format typically looks like this:

Last name, First Name. “Title of Webpage.” Title of Website, Publication date, URL.

MLA Citation Using Artificial Intelligence

However, citing AI deviates from these traditional formats due to the lack of a human author. When the author is unknown in MLA format, you begin the citation with the work’s title. However, with AI like ChatGPT, there isn’t always a clear ‘title of the work.’ Instead, the content is often generated based on a prompt you provide. In this case, your prompt can be the ‘title of the work.’

Additionally, the AI itself can be considered a sort of ‘corporate author,’ akin to how you might cite a report from an organization. Yet, it is a common practice to leave the ‘author’ field blank when citing AI.

Here’s how you might structure an AI citation in MLA format:

“Title of Source” (or the prompt you used). Title of Container (the AI tool, e.g., ChatGPT), Version (if available), Publisher (the company that developed the AI, e.g., OpenAI), Date of Access, URL.

Example of Citing AI in MLA Format

Let’s say you’re citing a passage generated by ChatGPT in response to the prompt “The future of AI in healthcare.” Here’s how the citation might look:

“The future of AI in healthcare.” ChatGPT, OpenAI, 14 July 2023, www.openai.com/chatgpt/.

In the main text of your paper, the parenthetical citation might look like this:

(“The future of AI in healthcare”).

Remember that the rules for citing AI in academic papers are still evolving, so always check your institution’s guidelines or consult your professor or a librarian if you’re unsure.

How to Cite AI in MLA Format

The Modern Language Association (MLA) format is a citation style frequently adopted in the humanities. In the burgeoning field of artificial intelligence (AI), citing AI in MLA format presents unique challenges and considerations. It marries the methodology of citing digital sources with the approach of citing corporate authors. Notably, when citing AI tools, the “author” field is typically left empty because the “author” is, in essence, the AI itself.

Here’s the full MLA explanation.

Fundamentals of the MLA Citation Format

In order to cite AI tools effectively in MLA format, it is vital first to understand the MLA citation format’s core tenets. The format employs an author-page method for in-text citations, which means the author’s last name and the page number from which the quotation or paraphrase is taken must appear in the text.

The Works Cited page at the end of your work then provides full details of your references. Here’s a general example:

Last Name, First Name. Title of Book. Publisher, Year of Publication.

If you’re citing an online resource, the format often appears as follows:

Last name, First Name. “Title of Article.” Title of Website, Date of Publication, URL.

Citing AI in MLA Format: The New Frontier

AI citation diverges from these established formats due to the absence of a human author. In instances where an author is not known, MLA stipulates the citation should start with the work’s title. However, when using an AI tool like ChatGPT, a clear ‘title of the work’ is often missing because the AI generates content based on your input or prompt. In such cases, the prompt you used may serve as the ‘title of the work.’

Considering AI tools as ‘corporate authors’ offers another approach. However, current practice often leaves the ‘author’ field blank when citing AI.

Therefore, citing AI in MLA format often adopts the following structure:

“Title of Source” (often the prompt you used). Title of Container (the AI tool), Version (if available), Publisher (the organization that developed the AI), Date of Access, URL.

Examples of Citing AI in MLA Format

Assume you wish to cite content generated by OpenAI’s ChatGPT in response to the prompt “Discuss the ethical implications of AI.” The citation might look like this:

“Discuss the ethical implications of AI.” ChatGPT, OpenAI, Accessed 16 July 2023, www.openai.com/chatgpt/.

For in-text citation, you may cite the source as follows:

(“Discuss the ethical implications of AI”).

When Should You Cite ChatGPT and Artificial Intelligence in MLA?

Understanding when to cite artificial intelligence tools like ChatGPT is as critical as knowing how to cite them. As academic integrity standards dictate, any material, concepts, or data that you did not create should be appropriately cited. For AI-generated content, this includes but is not limited to the following scenarios:

Introducing New Ideas Generated by AI

If you’re discussing or building upon a new idea, concept, or perspective produced by an AI tool like ChatGPT, citing the source is essential. Even though AI is not a human author, it’s still generating unique content that isn’t originally yours. As such, neglecting to cite it could inadvertently give the impression that you’re claiming the AI’s output as your own.

Paraphrasing or Quoting AI-Generated Text

You should cite the source when you use phrases, sentences, or larger chunks of text directly generated by AI. Whether you’re directly quoting the AI or paraphrasing its words, this holds true. When paraphrasing, accurately represent the original meaning of the AI’s output and provide an in-text citation to the AI tool you used.

Incorporating AI-Created Content

AI tools are increasingly adept at creating various content, such as images, infographics, or data visualizations. If you use any of this AI-generated content in your work, you should cite it. This helps to respect the work of the AI’s developers and provides your readers with a source for the content if they want to explore it further.

Utilizing AI Functional Tools

Many AI tools, including ChatGPT, offer functionalities beyond text generation, such as language translation, text editing, and summarization. If you use these features in your work—for instance, an AI tool to translate a piece of text or edit your writing—you should cite this in a note or in the text itself.

How Do You Cite a Chatbot in MLA?

Citing a chatbot in the Modern Language Association (MLA) format necessitates some unique considerations, as chatbots fall into the relatively new and rapidly developing domain of AI-generated content. However, the fundamental principles of citing a digital source in MLA format still apply.

Essential Components for Citing a Chatbot

When citing a chatbot, it’s important to include the following components in your citation:

• Author: The chatbot is AI-generating content, so the ‘author’ field is blank.
• Title of the Source: This is typically the prompt or command given to the bot. If the prompt is too long, a concise description of the content generated can be used instead.
• Title of the Container: This is the name of the chatbot.
• Version: If available, include the version of the chatbot used.
• Publisher: This is the organization that developed and maintained the chatbot.
• Date: Include the date when you accessed the chatbot.
• Location: This would be the URL where the chatbot can be accessed.

Citation Format for a Chatbot

So, the general citation format for a chatbot in MLA style would look like this:

“Title of Source.” Title of Container, Version, Publisher, Date, URL.

Example of Citing a Chatbot in MLA Format

Let’s say you’re using a chatbot like ChatGPT, and you provided the prompt, “How will AI change the future of work?” A possible citation might look like this:

“How will AI change the future of work?” ChatGPT, OpenAI, Accessed 16 July 2023, www.openai.com/chatgpt/.

The in-text citation would appear as:

(“How will AI change the future of work?”).

How to Cite AI in MLA: Full Citations

Comprehensive citations, or full citations, are indispensable for any scholarly work. They provide readers with detailed information about the sources used in your work, allowing them to locate these sources independently. When citing an AI tool like ChatGPT, here’s how you would structure a full citation in MLA format:

Structuring a Full Citation for AI in MLA Format

A full citation for an AI tool involves the following elements:

• Author: As the AI tool generates the content, this field is left blank, as the “author” is the AI itself.
• Title of Source: This should be the prompt used to generate the text. A succinct description could be used instead if the prompt is too long or complex.
• Title of Container: This should be the name of the AI tool. In the case of ChatGPT, the container’s title would be “ChatGPT.”
• Version: Include the version of the AI tool you’re using. For some tools, the version could be listed as a date.
• Publisher: The publisher is the company or entity that created and maintains the AI. For ChatGPT, the publisher would be “OpenAI.”
• Date: This should be when you accessed or used the AI tool, formatted as day-month-year.
• Location: This should be the URL or web address where the AI tool can be accessed.

Full Citation Example

Given these components, a full citation for an AI tool like ChatGPT in MLA format could look like this:

“Prompt Used to Generate Text.” ChatGPT, OpenAI, Date Accessed, URL.

For example:

“How will AI impact the future of work?” ChatGPT, OpenAI, Accessed 16 July 2023, www.openai.com/chatgpt/.

How to Cite AI in MLA: Parenthetical Citations

Parenthetical or in-text citations are brief references within your text that direct readers to the full citation on your works cited page. Parenthetical citations typically include the author’s last name and a page number. However, the structure changes slightly when citing AI tools like ChatGPT since there isn’t an author to reference in the traditional sense.

Creating a Parenthetical Citation for AI in MLA Format

When making parenthetical citations for AI tools in MLA format, it’s common to include the following:

• Title of the Source: This is the prompt used to generate the text. A short description can be used if the prompt is too long or unwieldy.
• Location: While the location isn’t typically included in MLA in-text citations, the URL can provide crucial information about the source in the case of AI tools.

Given this structure, the parenthetical citation for an AI tool like ChatGPT could look like this:

(“Title of Source,” URL).

Parenthetical Citation Example

For instance, if you’re citing ChatGPT and the prompt you used was “How will AI impact the future of work?” The parenthetical citation could be:

(“How will AI impact the future of work?,” www.openai.com/chatgpt/).

How to Cite ChatGPT in MLA Format

The Modern Language Association (MLA) format offers a standardized method to cite sources in academic writing. This structure applies to traditional resources like books or articles and newer digital tools like AI platforms like ChatGPT.

The Structure for Citing ChatGPT in MLA Format

When you’re referencing ChatGPT, your citation should include the following elements:

• Author: The ‘author’ field remains empty since the AI tool generates the content.
• Title of Source: This will typically be the prompt you gave to ChatGPT to generate a response. If the prompt is too long, you can briefly describe it.
• Title of Container: The name of the AI tool, which in this case would be ‘ChatGPT.’
• Version: Include the version of ChatGPT you used.
• Publisher: The entity that developed and maintained the AI, in this case, ‘OpenAI.’
• Date: This should be the date you accessed ChatGPT in the day-month-year format.
• Location: The URL where ChatGPT can be accessed.

An Example of Citing ChatGPT in MLA Format

So, for a comprehensive citation of ChatGPT in MLA format, you would structure it as follows:

“Prompt or Description.” ChatGPT, OpenAI, Date Accessed, URL.

For example:

“What is the future of AI in education?” ChatGPT, OpenAI, Accessed 16 July 2023, www.openai.com/chatgpt/.

For in-text (parenthetical) citations, the format would be:

(“Prompt or Description,” URL).

This standard format will ensure you properly cite ChatGPT in your academic work according to MLA guidelines.

Final Thoughts

As we march ahead in the AI era, we must remember to acknowledge these technological marvels in our academic work appropriately. Though AI citation is relatively uncharted, adhering to the MLA format and ensuring ethical academic practices can guide us. As citation norms evolve, we should be prepared to adapt and update our citation practices to accommodate these advancements.

How to Cite ChatGPT and AI in MLA: FAQs

When should you cite ChatGPT and AI in MLA?

You should cite ChatGPT and AI in MLA when you use its generated content or tools in your academic work, paraphrase, or directly quote its generated text.

How do you cite a chatbot in MLA?

Citing a chatbot in MLA involves including the chatbot’s name as the ‘title of the container’, leaving the ‘author’ field blank, and providing the prompt, publisher, version, access date, and URL in respective fields.

How do you cite ChatGPT in MLA format?

ChatGPT can be cited in MLA format by including the name ‘ChatGPT’ as the ‘title of the container’, providing the prompt, OpenAI (the publisher), the version, the date of access, and the URL in their respective fields.

Why is it important to cite AI like ChatGPT?

It’s important to cite AI to uphold academic integrity, give due credit to AI developers, and provide readers with the means to explore the AI tool in question.

Does MLA have specific guidelines for citing AI?

As of now, MLA does not have explicit guidelines for citing AI. However, using MLA guidelines for digital sources is advisable when citing generative AI tools.

How do I cite a specific version of ChatGPT in MLA format?

You can cite a specific version of ChatGPT by including the version number in your citation. Further details are discussed in the “Citing ChatGPT in MLA Format” section.

Can I cite AI tools like Google Duplex and IBM’s Watson using the same method as ChatGPT?

While the principles remain the same, nuances may exist depending on the AI tool’s functionalities and application. Hence, it’s wise to study each tool separately.

What challenges might I face when citing AI in academic papers?

Challenges include ambiguities in current citation norms and the lack of explicit guidelines for AI citation.

Are there any resources for further understanding how to cite AI in MLA format?

Until formal citation rules are established, referring to digital source citation norms and consulting with your institution or journal’s citation guide can be beneficial.

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