AI tools like ChatGPT, Claude, Gemini, and others have become a regular part of how many students research and write. If you use one of these tools in your paper – even just to help brainstorm or refine a sentence – the APA format requires you to cite it.
Here's everything you need to know.
Do You Actually Need to Cite AI?
Yes! Using AI tools to write the full text of a paper – and submitting that work as your own – is considered academic misconduct (McAdoo et al., 2025). But there are legitimate reasons a student might use AI: summarizing background material, getting feedback on clarity, generating a list of ideas to explore, or simply asking a question.
In any of these cases, you should cite the AI tool in the text where you used it and include a reference list entry at the end of your paper (McAdoo et al., 2025).
One important note: Always check your instructor's policy first. Some courses prohibit AI use entirely. Others allow it with disclosure. The citation rules below apply when AI use is permitted.
The Two Parts of an AI Citation
Just like any other source, citing AI in the APA format requires two things:
- A reference list entry at the end of your paper
- An in-text citation where you reference the tool in your paper
Reference List Formatting
Using PERRLA to Create your Reference
PERRLA makes it easy to cite AI tools. We've added AI to the Software & Mobile Apps reference type in the PERRLA reference engine. Here's a quick breakdown of how PERRLA handles AI references for you.
What's in an AI reference?
The reference list entry for an AI tool includes the following elements: the author (the company that created the tool), the date the chat occurred, the title of the chat in italics, a bracketed description of the tool type, and the URL.
If you are citing a specific interaction with AI:
Author. (Year, Month Day). Title of chat [Generative AI chat]. Tool Name. URL
Example:
OpenAI. (2025, March 14). Nursing care plan outline for hypertension [Generative AI chat]. ChatGPT. https://chatgpt.com/share/xxxxxx
If you aren't citing a specific AI interaction, use a generic URL:
Author. (Year). Tool name [Large language model]. Generic URL
Example:
Anthropic. (2025). Claude [Large language model]. https://claude.ai
In-Text Citation Format
In-text citations for AI follow the same author-year format as any other APA source.
(OpenAI, 2025)
You might also include a sentence in your Method section or introduction explaining how you used the tool – for example: "I used ChatGPT (OpenAI, 2025) to edit my paper and provide feedback on clarity and flow" (McAdoo et al., 2025).
A Note on Transparency
Because AI tools generate a unique response in each session – even when given the same prompt – it's considered good practice to include the full AI-generated text in an appendix so readers can access exactly what was generated. This is especially helpful for longer responses that directly shaped your paper's content.
How to Add an AI Citation in PERRLA
PERRLA's reference engine handles AI citations using the Software/App reference type. Here's how to add one:
Step 1 – Open your References panel
In PERRLA Online, open your paper and click References in the left sidebar. Then click Create a new Reference.
In Microsoft Word or Google Docs, open the References & Citations panel from the PERRLA menu. Then, click Create New Reference.
Step 2 – Select the Software/App reference type
In the reference form, select Software & Mobile Apps from the list of reference types in the All Types tab.
Step 3 – Fill in the fields
We provide help text for each field in case you aren't sure what information to include.
Step 4 – Click Next, then Create
PERRLA will format the reference automatically and add it to your reference list. From there, you can insert an in-text citation anywhere in your paper using the References & Citations panel.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
Don't cite AI as a website. AI tools aren't web articles. Use the Software & Mobile Apps reference type, not a webpage format.
Don't skip the bracketed descriptor. The [Generative AI chat] or [Large language model] label is part of the correct format – don't leave it out.
Don't treat AI like a human author. The author is always the company (OpenAI, Anthropic, Google) – not the tool itself.
Don't forget to disclose how you used it. A citation alone isn't always enough. A brief sentence in your introduction or method section explaining what you used AI for goes a long way toward transparency.
Still have questions? Reach out to our support team at support@perrla.com – we're available weekdays 10am–10pm and weekends 1pm–10pm.
References
McAdoo, T., Denneny, S., & Lee, C. (2025, September 9). Citing generative AI in APA style: Part 1—reference formats. American Psychological Association. https://apastyle.apa.org/blog/cite-generative-ai-references