How to Attribute Use of Generative AI
Acknowledging AI Use
To encourage reflective and critical use of Generative AI for learning, it is helpful to ask students to acknowledge all use of generative AI in their assignment. Acknowledgement could be a simple statement that is part of their submission.
As use of Generative AI for content creation evolves, conventions for acknowledgement of use will likely change as well.
Depending on the type of assignment, you may choose to have students use either citations or more informal acknowledgement statements.
It is also important for professors to model transparent use of GenAI by using acknowledgement statements with their own course materials.
Citation
The Algonquin College Library provides instructions for how to cite the use of GenAI according to MLA, APA, IEEE, and Chicago styles.
Citing AI Content by Citation Style (Algonquin College Library)
Acknowledgement of Generative AI Use Statements
Example Acknowledgement of Use Statement (Monash University)
Instructions
Concise summary of AI use in the assessment.
Very briefly explain the ways that you have used AI in the production of this assessment.
- Explain which AI tools you have used and for what purposes.
- If you have found and used tools on your own, explain why these tools were selected and provide a URL link to the tool.
- Note the number of iterations undertaken with each main AI collaborative tool.
- Describe what output from the tool/service has been included, and where.
- Summarize how you have altered, adopted, or built on the AI output.
In addition to using this summary to provide an overview of how AI has been used, it is strongly recommended that you also carefully document the processes undertaken in creating the assessment and to be able to present this process evidence upon request from educators or administrators.
Suggested format:
I used [insert AI system(s) and link] to [specific use of generative artificial intelligence] [number of iterations/drafts]. The tool was used to provide [describe content used in task]. The output from this tool was modified by [explain use].
Visit Monash University’s Student Academic Success page for more sample student formats.
Example Acknowledge of Use Statements – Wilfrid Laurier University
The output from the generative artificial intelligence was adapted and modified for the final response. I acknowledge the use of ChatGPT (https://chat.openai.com/) to generate materials that were included within my final assessment in modified form.
I entered the following prompts on [insert date]: Insert prompt.
Visit Wilfrid Laurier University’s Understanding Generative AI Tools page for more examples.
As part of the acknowledgement statement activity, students could briefly reflect on how they checked information for accuracy.
Modelling Use of Acknowledgement Statements in Your Work
An effective way to encourage student citation and acknowledgement of Generative AI use is to include these things in your own course learning materials.
Examples: Professor Acknowledgement of GenAI Use Statements
“Portions of this assignment were developed with the assistance of MS Copilot, which was used to generate potential essay topics. The final topic selection, research, and analysis were conducted independently by the author.”
“Course materials include generative AI assistance (Microsoft Copilot) in [specific task: brainstorming, outlining, summarizing]. All outputs were reviewed, verified, and revised by the author to ensure accuracy, integrity, and alignment with academic standards.”
This assignment was written with the help of MS Copilot, prompting the generative AI to (insert prompt here, such as “act as an editor”). All content was reviewed, edited, and refined by (your name), who bears full responsibility for its accuracy and originality.
“AI assistance was used in [specific task: summarizing articles, generating examples]. All outputs were critically evaluated, edited, and integrated by the author to ensure accuracy and originality.”
Examples from the University of Calgary Library