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Harvard Referencing Guide (not including LHS): AI Generative Tools (ChatGPT, Google Gemini, Copilot, etc.)

Harvard Referencing Guide (not including LHS)

 

 

Harvard Style of Citing References

AI Generative Tools (ChatGPT, Google Gemini, Copilot, etc.)

As with any source used in a piece of work, generative AI (e.g., ChatGPT, Google Gemini, Midjourney, Copilot) must be acknowledged and referenced in the usual way with a citation and reference list entry.

Guidance on referencing AI generative tools is continuing to evolve and is likely to change. Please keep checking this page for any updates (page last updated 8th August 2025).

Before beginning any piece of work, check with your lecturer that is appropriate to use AI tools in your assignment as this may differ across modules and courses of study. 

For more information visit the Generative Artificial Intelligence Webpage - Guidance on use of AI tools for students
 

 

If the generative AI material is available online or through a shareable URL, you can cite and reference as follows: 

In text:

Use AI creators name, followed by year.

e.g.

Creators name introduced naturally in the text: Canva AI (2023) shows highly defined detail...

Attribution at the end of a sentence or statement: ...the display is and always will be, thrilling (Canva AI, 2023).

In your list of references:

Format for information with a shareable URL:

Name of AI (Year).  Medium of Communication, Receiver of communication, Day, Month of communication. Available at: URL  [Accessed Date].

e.g.

OpenAI ChatGPT (2025) ChatGPT response to Jane Doe 20 September. Available at: https://chatgpt.com/share/68c18d49-40ec-8012-aca5-9f9695e125d1[Accessed 10 September 2025].

Format for AI generated Images:

Creator (Year of publication) Title of work. [Media type] Place of publication: Publisher (of image) if known. Available from: URL [Accessed Date].

e.g.  

Canva AI (2023) Orca breaching. [Digital art] Available from: https://www.canva.com/design/DAFnSSN_BWs/YN7-1umSTHj1T0XyjU9cMg/edit?utm_content=DAFnSSN_BWs&utm_campaign=designshare&utm_medium=link2&utm_source=sharebutton [Accessed 30 June 2023]. 

 

If the information is only accessible to you ( and the reader cannot retrieve the content, reference as a personal communication, including a description of the AI generated material in your in-text citation.

  • Use the company as the author, not the tool's name e.g., Anthropic rather than Claude AI. 

  • It is recommended that a copy of the prompts/questions along with the responses are included in the appendices.  

  • Each new prompt/question and response will need a separate appendix. 
     

In text:

Paraphrasing or summarising the generative AI's response.

e.g.

When prompted to suggest some examples of  sustainable methods of waste management in the construction industry the ChatGPT 3 (OpenAI ChatGPT, 2023) response included a number of suggestions that highlighted the importance of construction pre-planning. See Appendix 1.

 

 Quotations

If using the generative AI's exact wording treat as a quotation.

  • If it is a line or less, include it in the body of the text in double quotation marks. e.g. When prompted to summarise the impact of Brexit, Claude AI responded  “the full impact is still unfolding". (Anthropic Claude AI, 2023). See Appendix 2.
     
  • Longer quotations should be indented, single-spaced, and appear in double quotation marks e.g. When prompted to explain the theme of Love in Emily Bronte's Wuthering Heights, Claude AI responded, 

"Love - The passionate but destructive love between Catherine and Heathcliff is central to the novel. Their all-consuming love defies social norms but also leads to tragedy for them and others. The second generation sees love as a possible means of redemption". (Anthropic Claude AI., 2023) See Appendix 3.

In your list of references:

Name of AI (Year of communication) Medium of communication Receiver of communication, Day/month of communication.  

e.g.
OpenAI ChatGPT (2023) ChatGPT 3 response to John Smith, 6 June. 

Anthropic Claude AI (2023) Claude AI response to John Smith, 17 August.

 

If referencing the AI tool itself, follow the layout to reference it as a web based Computer Program. 

 e.g.

 OpenAI (2013) ChatGPT [Computer program]. Available from: https://chat.openai.com [Accessed 6 June 2023]. 

If using a different referencing style to Harvard, please contact your Campus Subject Team.