Artificial Intelligence and Library Skills

Using AI in academic work

Cite them right has some background information on AI tools and academic work.

 AI tools can help you: 

• Help improve your grammar and the structure of your writing and proof reading

• Generate ideas and images

• Generate coding and explore how other people's code works

• Answer questions using freely available information on the internet 

• Provide examples of how to structure work

 

You should reference use of AI tools 

As the content recalled from ChatGPT and similar tools cannot be replicated by another person and cannot be linked to, we recommend that you reference the outputs from generative AI, such as ChatGPT in the same way that you would a personal communication or correspondence.  

There is Harvard guidance on referencing generative AI on Cite them Right. 

 

Personal communications

If the AI’s end product (for example use of ChatGPT in conversation) is only available to you, cite this as a personal communication and include a description of the AI generated material in your in-text citation. Consult your tutor in case they require you to provide a copy of the AI work as an appendix to your work.

 

• Content from generative AI is a nonrecoverable source as it cannot be retrieved or linked so it is important to reference at the point of use.
• Note that both the in-text citations and references begin with the name of the sender of the communication for letters, emails, texts & generative AI
• When referencing the use of ChatGPT or other AI language models include the full name of the model and any relevant version numbers.

 

Harvard-  In-Text Reference Example:

 

In-text citation

When prompted by the author, ChatGPT responded with a ‘definition of academic integrity’ (OpenAI ChatGPT, 2023). A copy of this response is in Appendix 1.

Reference list

OpenAI ChatGPT (2023) ChatGPT response to John Stephens, 2 April.