Q. How do I acknowledge generative AIs in academic work?

The following is to be considered guidance only and is subject to change in line with the developing situation and future University policy. Please refer back to this FAQ for updates.  

If you are unsure about whether it is appropriate to use generative AI for your academic work, discuss this with your tutors prior to submitting any work that has utilised generative AI.    

All work you submit for an assessment should be your own and you should not present something that has been produced by a generative AI tool as your own work (see the University’s Academic Misconduct policy).  

The uses of generative AIs, such as ChatGPT and Bing AI, are new and fast evolving so there is not yet a consensus regarding how to cite and reference their use. AI chatbots operate like secondary sources, so it is good practice to locate the original source to ensure the information is correct. If you are able to locate the original source and decide to use the information contained within it, cite and reference the original source.  

Generative AIs frequently draw content from online sources without citing them and the sources generative AIs cite may not even be genuine. If the AI generates citations, it is your responsibility to check validity of those sources. 

One of the purposes of citing and referencing is to enable others, including your tutor, to find the information that you have used in your work. The way that you are using generative AI will determine what kind of kind of acknowledgement you will need. At this stage of development there are two potential ways of using generative AI within assessments:

Citing the software 

Cite and reference generative AI as Software if you are, for example, discussing the moral and ethical implications of this technological development within society.  

Generating content 

It is impossible for others to replicate your interactions with and results from generative AI. Add screenshots of all your interactions as appendices, so you can refer the reader to the appendix in the main body of your work, e.g. (see Appendix A). Each interaction will need a separate appendix.  

Within the appendix itself, provide details of the following: 

• The name of tool you used and the dates and times you accessed it 

• Screenshot(s) to show your inputs and the outputs that have been generated. 

Last updated 12 April 2023. Please refer back to this FAQ for updates.