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Cite AI tools and software in IEEE

Learn how to cite AI tools, software and apps in IEEE style. Follow templates for AI tools, image generators and mobile apps to reference sources accurately in your writing.

How do you reference AI content?

Referencing style guidance is being developed by the official bodies, and this is interim advice until formal notes can be added.
  • If you are discussing the AI software or program itself, use Software or App.
  • If you are referencing the content output of the program, use Personal Communication because the content output is not accessible or retrievable by others.

In-text citations

  • Number citations according to their order of appearance in the text. Use the same number for repeated references to the same source. 
  • Place citation numbers in square brackets [ ] immediately after the paraphrased or quoted text and within the punctuation.
  • Use double quotation marks (" ") for direct quotes and include the citation in square brackets [ ] after the quote.
  • If mentioning the author's name in the text, place the citation immediately after their name. Author names are not needed after the first citation.
Citation format Example
Paraphrasing The innovation of this bridge is due to the work of ... [1].
Direct quote Dr. James Miller has been credited for "building the ..." [3].

Reference list

Reference format Example
Template [#] AI tool, private communication, Mon. Year
Full reference

[1] OpenAI's ChatGPT, private communication, Apr. 2023

In-text citations

  • Number citations according to their order of appearance in the text. Use the same number for repeated references to the same source. 
  • Place citation numbers in square brackets [ ] immediately after the paraphrased or quoted text and within the punctuation.
  • Use double quotation marks (" ") for direct quotes and include the citation in square brackets [ ] after the quote.
  • If mentioning the author's name in the text, place the citation immediately after their name. Author names are not needed after the first citation.
Citation format Example
Paraphrasing I have used generative artificial intelligence to generate an image of an engineer at the site of a recently completed bridge. See [3. Fig. 2.].

Figures

Figure format Example
Template

<INSERT FIGURE>

Fig. #. Prompt. Name of the AI tool, private communication, Date created.
Figure reference

<INSERT FIGURE>

Fig. 2. Engineer inspecting a bridge. Openart.ai’s Midjourney, private communication, 17 May 2023.

Reference list

Reference format Example
Template [#] AI tool, private communication, Mon. Year
Full reference

[3] Midjourney, private communication, Apr. 2023

In-text citations

  • Number citations according to their order of appearance in the text. Use the same number for repeated references to the same source. 
  • Place citation numbers in square brackets [ ] immediately after the paraphrased or quoted text and within the punctuation.
  • Use double quotation marks (" ") for direct quotes and include the citation in square brackets [ ] after the quote.
  • If mentioning the author's name in the text, place the citation immediately after their name. Author names are not needed after the first citation.
Citation format Example
Paraphrasing According to the findings of [1] 
Direct quote “The data analysis proved the hypothesis” [2. Appendix 1]

Reference list

Reference format Example
Template [#] Author. Title of Software. (version or year). Name of Publisher. Accessed: Date (when applicable). [Medium]. Available: URL
Full reference

[1] MATLAB. (2019). The MathWorks. Accessed: Dec. 04, 2019. [Online]. Available: https://au.mathworks.com/products/matlab-online.html

[2] MechDesigner CAD Software. (2011). PSMotion Ltd. Accessed: 24 Oct. 2019. [Online]. Available: https://www.psmotion.com/cad-cae-machine-design-and-analysis/cadcae-machine-design-software

Access date

Reference format Example
Template [#] Author. Title of Software. (version or year). Name of Publisher. Accessed: Date (when applicable). [Medium]. Available: URL
Full reference

[3] D. W. Arning et al. Mixed Mode-Mixed Level Circuit Simulator. (2011). Ngspice. Accessed Jan. 11, 2019. [Online]. Available: http://ngspice.sourceforge.net  

[4] Antenna Products. (2011). Antcom. Accessed: Feb. 12, 2014. [Online]. Available: http://www.antcom.com/ documents/catalogs/L1L2GPSAntennas.pdf