When utilizing AI in your work, it’s crucial to maintain academic integrity and ensure transparency. The following guidelines outline best practices for sourcing information and attributing the use of AI tools.
Maintaining Accuracy
Generative AI can sometimes produce inaccurate information or fabricate sources. You are ultimately responsible for verifying the accuracy of all content, regardless of its origin (your own input or AI generation). This means thoroughly checking all facts, quotations, reasoning, and logical flow. It’s essential to document the steps you took to validate your sources and information.
Proper Attribution
All ideas that are not your original work must be properly attributed to their source. Be aware that generative AI frequently invents sources. This creates a dual responsibility for you regarding attribution:
- When generative AI provides a source, you are obligated to locate and cite the true original source of the idea. Your citation should include the specific location of the text within the source and a functional link if the source is available online. If you cannot identify the original source, the associated content must be removed.
- To ensure transparency, you must document your use of generative AI in a work statement that will accompany the submission of major projects. Please adapt and include a version of the following statement with your submissions:
Sample AI Design Statement
If you use generative AI tools on assignments, it is best practice to include a design statement that documents your process. A sample is provided below:
The AI tool(s) used were [Name of Tool(s)]. This tool was used [Briefly describe how it was used in the process, e.g., for brainstorming initial ideas]. Key prompts included [Briefly state the initial prompt and any significant revisions]. The AI output was evaluated by [Briefly describe your assessment process]. My edits to the AI’s output involved [Briefly explain the changes you made]. A shareable link to the GenAI conversation is provided [Insert Link if applicable]. The AI tool was cited using [State how you cited the AI].
In some instances, citing the use of generative AI is similar to citing any other source. Currently, the American Psychological Association (APA) style guide, Modern Language Association (MLA), and Chicago Manual of Style all include recommendations and examples for citing AI-generated materials.