Generative AI & Authorship
Generative AI can be used at many parts of the writing process, like brainstorming, drafting outlines, locating resources, grammar and language improvement, as well as creating new text and images. University and disciplinary guidelines as well as publisher policies require credit to be given when generative AI is utilized within a project. But when do you give credit?
The International Association of Scientific, Technical & Medical Publishers (STM) released a whitepaper in 2023 wherein they examined the uses and potential uses of generative AI in the scholarly communications cycle. Within they looked at several publisher policies for expectations on when credit or disclosure should be given and when use of generative AI was permitted. When using generative AI only as an editing support tool for formatting, grammar/spelling correction, etc. and not for adding generative AI created text to a paper, disclosure is not necessary in most cases.
Figure note: From STM White Paper “Generative AI in Scholarly Communiations”. Used with permissions.
- COPE Position on AI AuthorshipStatement issues by the Committee on Publications Ethics.
- STM White Paper “Generative AI in Scholarly Communiations”White paper discussing trends and policies in the use of Generative AI in scholarly communications.
- Use of Generative AI and Large Language Models in ETDsGuidance from the Office of Graduate studies on how generative AI tools and Large Language Models may be used in theses and dissertations.
- USF Regulation 3.027 – Academic Integrity of StudentsUse of any tool or assistive technology for completion of coursework must be authorized by your instructor first.
Citing AI in Your Research
If you choose to use ChatGPT or some other AI technology for writing, be sure you are transparent about your use of it with your teachers and publishers and working within their policies and parameters. Each citation style has different recommendations for citing generative AI tools like ChatGPT.
- APA 7: Open AI. (Year). ChatGPT (month day version) [Large Language Model]. https://chat.openai.com/chat
- MLA 9: "Prompt text" prompt. ChatGPT, day month. version, OpenAI, day month year, chat.openai.com/chat
- Chicago: ChatGPT, response to "Prompt text," OpenAI, month, day, year, https://chat.openai.com/chat
Check with the individual style guides for more detailed instructions on in text citation and variations.
- APA Style How to cite ChatGPTAPA Style instructions for how to cite ChatGPT and other generative AI tools.
- Chicago Style: recommended citation method for ChatGPTChicago Style FAQ answer on the recommended method for citing ChatGPT and other generative AI.
- Citing SourcesA collection of resources to help you learn and identify different citations formats and management systems.
- MLA Style Center: Artificial IntelligenceThe MLA Style Center gives advice for how to cite artificial intelligence.
- Purdue Owl Reference List: Other Non-Print SourcesThe Purdue Owl gives instructions on how to cite interviews and other non-print sources in APA style.
Publisher Policies and Requirements
Before including generative AI tools in a project you intend to get published, make sure your target journal and publisher allow the integration of AI generated text and images with manuscript submissions. Below are a few example publisher statements or policy on the use of AI in article submissions.
- Elsevier AI author policyElsevier’s new AI author policy focuses on ensuring the integrity of the scholarly record and aims to provide greater transparency and guidance to authors, readers, reviewers, editors and contributors.
- IEEE Submission PoliciesIEEE Guidelines on AI-Generated Text: The use of artificial intelligence (AI)–generated text in an article shall be disclosed in the acknowledgements section of any paper submitted to an IEEE Conference or Periodical. The sections of the paper that use AI-generated text shall have a citation to the AI system used to generate the text.
- Nature Statement on Authorship and AI“Large Language Models (LLMs), such as ChatGPT, do not currently satisfy our authorship criteria. Notably an attribution of authorship carries with it accountability for the work, which cannot be effectively applied to LLMs. Use of an LLM should be properly documented in the Methods section (and if a Methods section is not available, in a suitable alternative part) of the manuscript.”
- PLOS ONEPLOS expects that articles should report the listed authors’ own work and ideas. Any contributions made by other sources must be clearly and correctly attributed.
- Sage Assistive and Generative AI Guidelines for AuthorsPolicy outlining the use of both AI assistive and generative AI technologies in manuscript submissions.
- Taylor & Francis Clarifies the Responsible use of AI Tools in Academic Content CreationNews post summarizing the changes Taylor & Francis made to author and editorial policy pages regarding the use of generative AI.