Footnote / Bibliography Referencing - Generative AI

Format for a Chicago style citation for AI in the following order:

• Number
• Originator of the communication
• Medium
• Day Month
• Year

¹OpenAI's ChatGPT AI language model, response to “summarise quantum computing ”, 7 February, 2023, OpenAI, https://chat.openai.com/chat.

Here you can find Chicago 17th notes bibliography referencing style for generative AI images.

It is important to include appropriate acknowledgement of images used in your assessments whether that be in a report, visual essay, PowerPoint presentation, video or other form of work. Images you create yourself (without the use of AI) generally do not need a reference. Images you create with generative AI should generally have a caption citation and may also be included in a reference list/bibliography. Check with your course convenor or assessment brief for specific requirements in your assessments.

This guide also covers non-AI generated images to illustrate the differences. Recommendations for how to reference AI-generated content may change in the future as referencing style manuals are updated.

Caption (non-AI generated or AI generated that is not your own)

There is no one exact format for captions as it varies depending on the type of image. The rule below is suggested for photographs, artwork, AI generated by someone else. 

You can refer to images in your text with the figure number, such as "… see fig. 1" or "… (fig. 1)".

Place the caption below the figure.

Rule
Figure number. Artist/Creator, Title/Description, Year, Medium, URL.
Use n.d. when no date is available.
Begin with the Title/Description if the Artist name is unknown.

Example (non-AI generated) 
 
Figure 1. newformula, Rose Seidler House, 2008, Photograph, https://www.flickr.com/photos/11376310@N00/3765728632.

Example (sourced AI generated image)
 
Figure 2. Megavectors, Abstract art design. Fairy tale fantasy illustration. Fantasy world, n.d., Gen AI Image, https://stock.adobe.com/au/images/abstract-art-design-fairy-tale-fantasy-illustration-fantasy-world/603087009

Caption (your own generative AI image)

Chicago 17th does not yet have guidelines for how to reference AI-generated images.

The Chicago Manual of Style (CMOS) Online FAQ suggests the following rule:
“prompt used to generate the image,” image generated by Name of Company/creator of generative AI Tool Name of generative AI tool with version, Month Day, Year.

Example 1

Figure 3. “A modern office rendered as a cubist painting,” image generated by OpenAI’s DALL·E 2, March 5, 2023.
 
Example 2

Figure 4. “house in magical world,” image generated by Adobe Firefly Image 3, April 28, 2024.

Footnote

Footnotes are often used when citing an image that may not appear within your work (e.g. if you refer to a famous artwork and do not include the image itself and caption).

Rule
Note number. Artist, Title of Artwork, Date of Creation, medium, dimensions (if applicable), Location (if applicable), Publisher/Online Image Library, URL.

Example (painting)
3. Salvador Dalí, The Persistence of Memory, 1931, oil on canvas, 9½ × 13″ (24.1 × 33 cm), Museum of Modern Art, New York, http://www.moma.org/collection/works/7901.

Bibliography (AI / non-AI generated)

Rule
Artist. Title. Date of Creation. Medium. dimensions (if applicable). Location (if applicable). Publisher/Online Image Library. URL.

Example (non-AI generated)
McCurry, Steve. Afghan Girl. December 1984. Photograph. National Geographic, cover, June 1985
 
Example (non-AI generated)
newformula. Rose Seidler House. 2008. Photograph. Flickr. https://www.flickr.com/photos/11376310@N00/3765728632.

Example (sourced Gen AI image)
Megavectors. Abstract art design. Fairy tale fantasy illustration. Fantasy world. n.d. Gen AI Image. Adobe Stock. https://stock.adobe.com/au/images/abstract-art-design-fairy-tale-fantasy-illustration-fantasy-world/603087009.