Understanding Plagiarism

Always check with your instructor about whether and how they allow students to use artificial intelligence (AI) tools to help complete assignments. When in doubt, ask about your specific use. Using AI tools in ways that your instructor doesn't allow will violate academic integrity policies.

If your use is allowed, you still need to cite it! If an idea, concept, fact, or sentence didn't come from your own mind, you have to give credit to the original source. See the links below for guidance on citing AI-generated content in the most common citation styles. As an emerging and rapidly changing technology, AI can be tricky to cite, and none of the style guides have been updated with official guidelines. Make a good faith effort to attribute any use appropriately. You can always consult with your instructor on how they would like you to cite your specific use.

Keep records of your prompts and the AI's original responses. Unlike a journal article or book chapter, the content an AI generates will change, even if you submit exactly the same prompt. It's helpful to have a copy that you can refer back to. In some cases, your instructor may also want you to submit copies of the original prompt and responses with your assignment.

(Image: "ChatGPT" by focal5 is licensed under CC BY-NC 2.0.)

Citing AI Tools