How to Cite Generative AI in APA Style (7th ed.)?

Create a spot-on reference in APA 7 and 6

Select a source type:

Book Website Journal article Video (online)

Archival document Blog post Book Book chapter Complete reference Conference paper Copyright certificate Court case Dictionary Dictionary entry Disc Dissertation / Thesis Encyclopedia Encyclopedia article Extended abstract of dissertation Image Journal article Law / Act Newspaper article Patent Podcast Preprint Press release Religious text Report Social media post Software Standard Video (online) Video game Website

As generative AI tools like ChatGPT, DALL-E, and others become increasingly integrated into research and writing, citing them properly is essential. The American Psychological Association (APA) has provided guidance on how to credit these tools when used in academic work. Here is a quick guide on how to cite generative AI in APA Style.

Basic Format for APA Reference

To cite a generative artificial intelligence tool in APA Style (7th ed.), use the following template:

Creator/Publisher. (Year). Title of AI Model (Version) [Model type]. Publisher. URL

N.B.: In your reference list, you should provide the details of the AI model in general. In the text of your paper, you should disclose the other relevant information, e.g. the prompt submitted to ChatGPT, a quotation from the output provided by the AI tool, etc.

N.B.: The name of the creator and the publisher of the AI model will often be the same. If this is the case, drop the Publisher element from the reference.

Examples of generative AI references in APA Style (7th ed.)

ChatGPT

Reference List

OpenAI. (2025). ChatGPT (Version 4o) [Large language model]. https://chatgpt.com/

In-Text Citation

In response to the prompt “What are the five main causes of insomnia?”, ChatGPT noted, among other things, that “Irregular sleep schedules, using screens before bed, napping too much during the day, or sleeping in an uncomfortable environment can all disrupt healthy sleep patterns” (OpenAI, 2025).

Other AI Models

The same rules apply to any model other than ChatGPT. Just insert the correct model type, e.g.:

OpenAI. (2025). DALL-E (Version 3) [Text-to-image model]. https://chatgpt.com/