How to Cite ChatGPT in Chicago Manual of Style
Chicago treats ChatGPT as a non-retrievable personal-style communication. Credit OpenAI as the author of the tool, name ChatGPT and its version, give the date of the response, and note that the output cannot be linked, usually citing it in a note rather than the bibliography.
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How to cite chatgpt in Chicago step by step
- Credit the owner. Use OpenAI as the author since it is the organization responsible for ChatGPT.
- Name the tool and version. Identify ChatGPT and the model version you used, since outputs differ across versions.
- Describe the prompt. Note the nature of your prompt in the text or note so readers understand what produced the response.
- Date the response. Give the date you generated the response, because the same prompt can return different answers later.
- Note non-retrievability. State that the conversation is not publicly retrievable, and add the tool URL rather than a link to your chat.
Chicago chatgpt citation format
Chicago handles ChatGPT in a note because the output is not recoverable by readers. Credit goes to OpenAI as author with ChatGPT and a date, so the worked example shows the note form.
Common chatgpt citation variations
Does ChatGPT go in the Chicago bibliography?
Usually no. Because the conversation cannot be retrieved, Chicago recommends citing it in a footnote, and you add a bibliography entry only if your instructor requires one.
How do I credit the prompt when citing ChatGPT in Chicago?
Mention the prompt in your sentence or in the note, for example noting that you asked ChatGPT to summarize a policy, so the context of the generated text is clear.
How do I cite a specific ChatGPT model version in Chicago?
Name the version alongside ChatGPT, since the model used affects the output and lets readers understand which system produced it.
Can I link to my ChatGPT conversation in Chicago?
If you used a share link that stays live, you may add it, but otherwise give the tool URL and state that your specific session is not retrievable.
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ChatGPT citation FAQ
Who is the author of a ChatGPT response in Chicago?
OpenAI, the company that makes ChatGPT, is treated as the author, while ChatGPT is named as the tool that generated the text.
Why is ChatGPT cited in a note rather than the reference list in Chicago?
Because the output is not publicly retrievable, Chicago treats it like personal communication, which is best handled in a note.