How to Cite ChatGPT in Bluebook (legal)
Bluebook has no fixed rule for AI chatbots, so cite ChatGPT as an internet source by analogy: credit OpenAI, name ChatGPT and its version, give the date, note that the output is not retrievable, and add the tool URL with a last visited parenthetical.
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How to cite chatgpt in Bluebook step by step
- Credit the owner. Name OpenAI as the entity responsible for the tool.
- Identify the tool. State that the source is ChatGPT and give the model version, since outputs vary by version.
- Describe the prompt. Explain in the text or parenthetical what you asked, because the prompt drives the output.
- Date the response. Give the date you generated the response, the key time anchor for a non-retrievable source.
- URL and retrievability. Add the tool URL with a last visited parenthetical, and note that the specific session cannot be retrieved.
Bluebook chatgpt citation format
Bluebook has no dedicated AI rule, so ChatGPT is cited by analogy to the internet rules, crediting OpenAI with the date and tool URL. The worked example reflects the non-retrievable nature of the output.
Common chatgpt citation variations
How do I show a ChatGPT response is not retrievable in Bluebook?
Note in a parenthetical that the specific session is on file with the author or is not publicly retrievable, since the conversation cannot be reached through the tool URL.
Which date do I use when citing ChatGPT in Bluebook?
Use the date you generated the response as the operative date, formatted in the last visited style, because the same prompt can return different output later.
How do I credit the prompt when citing ChatGPT in Bluebook?
Describe the prompt in your text or in a parenthetical so the reader understands what produced the quoted or paraphrased output.
Can I cite a shared ChatGPT link in Bluebook?
If a public share link stays live, you may give it as the URL; otherwise use the tool URL and note that your session is not retrievable.
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ChatGPT citation FAQ
Does Bluebook have an official rule for AI chatbots?
No formal rule yet, so practitioners adapt the internet source rules, crediting the owner and treating the output as non-retrievable.
Who is the author of a ChatGPT response in Bluebook?
OpenAI, as the entity behind ChatGPT, is credited, with ChatGPT and its version named as the tool.