AI citation and disclosure

Cite the Source of the Claim, and Disclose the AI's Role Separately

When you quote or analyse AI output, document that output under the rule governing your work. When AI only surfaces a fact, open and cite the original source. Editing, translation, or brainstorming usually belongs in a separate disclosure, not a fabricated reference.

Reviewed 19 July 2026 · always verify the final formatNo institution-acceptance guarantee
Draft with @vustbot
4 official basesOriginal sources come firstInstitution rules take priority

Based on

Official guides differ, and that difference matters

We reviewed the current APA Style, MLA Style Center, and Chicago Manual of Style guidance, plus the official record for GOST R 7.0.100-2018. That GOST governs bibliographic descriptions and does not define a universal AI citation, so an institution template should not be presented as a universal Russian rule.

This is an editorial decision guide, not a certified formatter.

What each basis changes

BasisPractical ruleVerify before submission
APARecord the tool creator, model/version, date, and retrievable URL; describe material use separately.Official basis
MLADo not treat AI as the author; describe the generated material, tool, version, company, date, and location.Official basis
ChicagoAcknowledge use in text or a note; a non-public exchange does not need a fabricated bibliography entry.Official basis
ГОСТ / вузDo not copy a claimed universal AI template. Follow the institution's rule for the resource and reference.Official basis

Four checks

  1. 1. Identify what entered the work: Quoted or paraphrased AI output, process-only assistance, and an original source discovered through AI are different cases.
  2. 2. Check the governing rule: Start with the instructor, institution, journal, or employer policy; then apply the requested citation style.
  3. 3. Record the context: Keep the tool, version or mode, date, material prompt, and a retrievable conversation link when sharing it is permitted.
  4. 4. Verify the source: When AI points to a paper, law, or statistic, open and read the original, then cite that source directly.
Based on
Official guidance reviewed 19 July 2026, not VUST user data.
Best for
Coursework, theses, articles, and reports where disclosed AI use is permitted.
Not ideal for
Work where AI is prohibited, or replacing an original source with a model summary.
In short
Cite where the claim came from; disclose what the AI actually did.

What to send to @vustbot

Provide the style, tool, version/mode, date, how the output was used, whether the exchange is retrievable, and any institution rule. Treat the result as a draft and verify its fields and punctuation against the current guide.

If you need a disclosure rather than a citation, use the separate AI-use declaration template.

FAQ

Frequently asked questions

Is there one correct citation format for every AI tool?

No. APA, MLA, Chicago, and institution-specific policies handle generated output and non-retrievable conversations differently. Use the rule that governs your work and keep the exchange you relied on.

Should I cite the AI or the sources it named?

For a factual claim, open, read, and cite the original source. Identify the AI separately when you quote or analyse its output, or when the governing policy requires disclosure.

Can @vustbot format the reference for me?

General chat can draft a reference from the details you provide, but it is not a dedicated verified formatter. Check the result against the current style guide and your institution's instructions.

Does this apply to ChatGPT, Claude, and Gemini?

The decision rule applies across generative tools. Exact fields and punctuation vary by style edition, tool version, conversation retrievability, and local policy.

Where next

Related Tools

AI-use declarationA fill-in structure for describing AI assistance honestly.Search with sourcesFind and open the original source before citing it.All tools