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The IB allows students to use AI as a tool to support their coursework. However, it’s essential to properly cite any AI-generated content to avoid academic misconduct. In this post, we’ll explain how to correctly cite AI in IB work.
IB - Citing ChatGPT and AI
The IB does not consider any content from generative AI tools like ChatGPT, DeepSeek, or similar platforms as a student's own work. To avoid academic misconduct – which could put your work and even your entire diploma at risk – it’s crucial to properly cite any use of AI in your work. This applies to both information and analysis generated by AI.
When citing AI, follow the same process as you would for any other source. Include an in-text citation or footnote where you reference AI-generated content and provide a full citation in your bibliography.
Citing AI in MLA
The standard format for citing AI in MLA is as follows:
“Title of Source” prompt. Title of Container, Version, Publisher, Date of Content Generation, URL/Link
- ''Title of Source'' prompt – This is the prompt you entered into the AI model to generate the response you are referencing.
- Title of Container – Name of the AI model (i.e. ChatGPT, DeepSeek, etc.).
- Version – The model version you used to generate the response (i.e. GPT 4-o, GPT 3.5, etc.).
- Publisher – Names of the developers who created the AI tool (i.e. ChatGPT, DeepSeek, etc.).
- Date of Content Generation – The day, month, and year when the response was generated.
- URL – The link to the AI model.
Hence, if you were citing ChatGPT's analysis of symbolism in Maya Angelou's ''Still I Rise'', using MLA, you would format it as follows:
“Describe the use of symbolism in ''Still I Rise'' by Maya Angelou” prompt. ChatGPT, GPT 4-o version, OpenAI, 14 Feb. 2025, chat.openai.com/chat.
An in-text citation in MLA for the example above would look like this:
(Describe the use of symbolism in ''Still I Rise'' by Maya Angelou)
Citing AI in APA
In APA style on the other hand there is no need to mention the prompt entered into the AI tool. As such, a ChatGPT APA citation will look the following way:
OpenAI. (2025). ChatGPT (GPT-4o) [Large language model]. https://openai.com
- In APA, the only details that may vary are the year the response was generated and the specific version of the model used.
An in-text citation in APA style looks the following way:
(OpenAI, 2025)
Citing AI in Harvard
In Harvard referencing style you should mention:
- The title of the source (i.e. describe what was generated by the AI tool. This may be the prompt used.)
- Year generated (in round brackets).
- AI tool and version.
- Day/month of communication.
A Harvard reference would look the following way:
Describe the use of symbolism in ''Still I Rise'' by Maya Angelou (2025). ChatGPT (GPT-4). [Accessed 14 February 2025)
An in text-citation in Harvard referencing style consists of the year and the prompt entered:
(Describe the use of symbolism in ''Still I Rise'' by Maya Angelou, 2025)
Citing AI in Chicago
When citing AI in Chicago provide:
- The name of the author (OpenAI, DeepSeek, etc.).
- The version of the model (GPT-4, GPT-3.5, etc.).
- The specific date the response was generated.
- The access date, in case the content changes.
A Chicago reference will look the following way:
OpenAI. 2025. ChatGPT (version GPT-4). February 14, 2025.
An in-text citation will look the following way:
(OpenAI 2025)
We hope you found this post helpful. For more useful materials associated with the IB check out the wide variety of IA, EE and TOK exemplars available at Clastify and other guides available on our blog.
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