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
| Basis | Practical rule | Verify before submission |
|---|---|---|
| APA | Record the tool creator, model/version, date, and retrievable URL; describe material use separately. | Official basis |
| MLA | Do not treat AI as the author; describe the generated material, tool, version, company, date, and location. | Official basis |
| Chicago | Acknowledge use in text or a note; a non-public exchange does not need a fabricated bibliography entry. | Official basis |
| ГОСТ / вуз | Do not copy a claimed universal AI template. Follow the institution's rule for the resource and reference. | Official basis |
Four checks
- 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. Check the governing rule: Start with the instructor, institution, journal, or employer policy; then apply the requested citation style.
- 3. Record the context: Keep the tool, version or mode, date, material prompt, and a retrievable conversation link when sharing it is permitted.
- 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.