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Cite AI tools and software in MLA

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

How do you cite and reference AI content?

To reference the content output of generative AI tools such as ChatGPT, MLA recommends the following format.
This guidance is taken from the MLA Style Center post How do I cite generative AI in MLA style?

  • Always check carefully secondary sources cited by generative AI tools. Where possible, consult and reference the original source.
  • Do not treat the AI tool as an author. Omit the author field and start the reference with the title.
  • The title can be information about the prompt or a description of the content generated. If including the prompt used to generate the content, enclose these words in quotation marks.
  • If the title is long, it can be shortened in the in-text citation to the first few words, up to at least the first noun. More information about shortening long titles is available on the MLA Style Center website.

In-text citations

Citation format Example
Template

("Title”).

or

“Title” ...
Paraphrasing

(“Describe the symbolism“).

or

“Describe the symbolism“ ...

Works cited

The publisher is the name of the company that developed the tool.

Reference format Example
Template “Title”.  Name of AI tool, Version or version date of tool, Publisher, Creation date of content, URL of tool.
Works cited entry

“Describe the symbolism of the green light in the book The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald” prompt. ChatGPT, 13 Feb. version, OpenAI, 8 Mar. 2023, chat.openai.com/.

  • Referencing style guidance for images is being developed by the official bodies. Use this interim advice until formal notes can be added.
  • Do not treat the AI tool as an author. Omit the author field and start the in-text citation or reference with the title.
  • If you cannot locate the version information, leave that out.
  • The publisher is the name of the company that developed the tool.
  • You may need to search the 'About' section of the tool used or perform a Google search to locate the name of the company that developed the tool originally.
  • The title can be information about the prompt or a description of the content generated. If including the prompt used to generate the content, enclose these words in quotation marks.
  • If the title is long, it can be shortened in the in-text citation to the first few words, up to at least the first noun. More information about shortening long titles is available on the MLA Style Center website.

See MLA for further guidance and examples.

In-text citations

Citation format Example
Template Artificial intelligence tools such as [Name of the AI tool] can create some amazing images as seen in Fig.#.
Paraphrasing Artificial intelligence tools such as Pixlr tools can create some amazing images as seen in Fig.1.

Figures

Citation format Example
Template

<FIGURE>

Fig. X. “Prompt used” prompt, Name of AI tool, Version of tool used, Name of publisher, Date image was created, URL of the tool.
Below the figure

AI-generated image of a blue dragon wearing a Superman costume, flying above a city skyline at night with a glowing full moon in the background.Fig. 1. “Dragon in a Superman costume” prompt, AI Image Generator, Pixlr, 16 May 2024, https://pixlr.com/image-generator/.

Works cited

Reference format Example
Template “Prompt” prompt. Name of publisher, Name of AI tool, Version of tool used, Name of publisher, Date image was created, URL of the tool.
Works cited entry

“Dragon in a Superman costume” prompt. AI Image Generator, Pixlr, 16 May 2024, https://pixlr.com/image-generator/.

In-text citations

Place direct quotes between double quotation marks (" ").

Citation format Example
Paraphrasing It is also possible to push this information via bluetooth technology to a compatible device (Weatherflow Version 1.5.0).
Direct quote Not everything is created in-house, the About Word information acknowledges "Certain templates developed for Microsoft Corporation by Impressa Systems" (Microsoft Word Version 16.0.4639.1000).

Works cited

  • Only give reference entries for specialised software with limited distribution. No reference entry is needed for standard software and programming languages.
  • Give the title of the software followed by the version number in parentheses. Add a description after the version number. Give the name of the company and year of production. If accessed online, add the website name before the publication medium (‘Web’) and retrieval date.
Reference format Example
Template Title of Software (Version number). Form. Website Name (if online). Company, Year.
Works cited entry

Weather Flow (Version 1.5.0). Mobile phone application. Windows Phone. Microsoft, 2013.

Dolphin (Version 4.0.2). Computer software. Official Dolphin Emulator. Dolphin Emulator Project, 2013.