How to cite ChatGPT
Need to cite a conversation with ChatGPT (OpenAI)? Choose your style, add the date and (optionally) your prompt, and copy a correctly formatted citation — free, no sign-up.
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How do you cite an AI chatbot?
Because an AI chatbot's output isn't publicly retrievable, most style guides treat it like software or an algorithm. The core pieces are the company that made it (OpenAI), the tool and version (ChatGPT), the date you used it, and the URL. In APA you list OpenAI as the author; in MLA you start with your prompt; Chicago usually puts the whole thing in a note.
One rule holds across every style: describe how you used it in your text or methods, and keep your own record of the prompt and reply, because ChatGPT conversations can't be retrieved by your reader.
ChatGPT citation examples by style
APA 7th edition
OpenAI. (2026). ChatGPT (GPT-5) [Large language model]. https://chat.openai.com
In-text: (OpenAI, 2026)
MLA 9th edition
“Explain the main causes of the French Revolution” prompt. ChatGPT, GPT-5, OpenAI, 12 March 2026, https://chat.openai.com.
In-text: (“Explain the main causes…”)
Chicago (notes–bibliography)
OpenAI, ChatGPT, GPT-5, 12 March 2026, https://chat.openai.com.
In-text: (OpenAI, 2026)
Examples use a sample date (12 March 2026) and prompt; the generator above uses your own details.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need to cite ChatGPT at all?
Yes — if you quote, paraphrase, or build on ChatGPT's output, cite it, and check your instructor's policy on AI use. Passing AI text off as your own is plagiarism.
Who is the author — me or OpenAI?
In APA and Chicago, the author is OpenAI (the company that made ChatGPT). MLA starts the entry with the prompt you used instead.
What if I don't know the version?
Leave it blank — it's optional. If you can find it (often shown in the app), adding the version makes your citation more precise.