Citing generative AI: Guidelines & Best practices
Generative AI tools create text, images, video, audio and more based on the prompts entered by the user. You need to check the project AI Assessment scale and confirm with your facilitator that you are allowed to use generative AI tools before using them in your assessments, and you must clearly acknowledge their use. For more information on using generative AI tools in assessments, visit Using AI for assessments.
General guidelines and best practices for referencing AI-generated works below are adapted from the APA style blog post from September 9th, 2025: Citing generative AI in APA Style.
When describing AI Models and AI-generated content in your reference list, use the recommendations below for guidance. Please note: There are many different types of AI models & types of AI-generated content, as well as numerous systems that utilise multiple models. If the AI tool or the output you are referencing can be described more appropriately than the types found in the list, you can be flexible and choose wording that will “best convey the information readers need” (per Section 9.21 of the Publication Manual; APA, 2020, p. 292).
| Type of Model / Description | Type of Chat / Description of the content created | Use for |
| Large Language Model | Generative AI chat | AI that generates text, such as ChatGPT or Gemini |
| Music Generation Model | Generative AI song |
AI that generates music from text or audio, such as Music LM, Suno AI or MusicGen |
| Image Generation Model | Generative AI image |
AI that generates images from text, such as Adobe Firefly, Midjourney or Recraft |
| Video Generation Model | Generative AI video |
AI that generates video from text, such as Synthesia or Google Veo |
| Code Generation Model | Generative AI code | AI that generates code from text, such as Claude |
In alignment with recent APA changes, please use either of the two reference templates when referencing AI:
| 1. Citing an AI Chat or Other AI-generated Content |
Use when citing specific information from the chat or a particular AI-generated piece of content. |
The reference includes the URL of the chat or of the generated output. Example: Google. (2025, May 22). High school grammar concepts overview [Generative AI chat]. Gemini 2.5 Flash. https://g.co/gemini/share/a1306ce12929 |
|
2. Citing an AI tool generally |
Cite an AI tool generally when it would be unhelpful, unethical, or otherwise inappropriate to cite a specific chat, as well as when you want to point to the existence of the AI tool but not necessarily cite specific information from it. |
The reference will include the URL of the AI tool. Example: Google. (2025). Gemini 2.5 Flash [Large language model]. https://gemini.google.com |
See more detailed information about the two reference templates in the sections below ⬇️
If you need assistance with referencing, click on me!