Referencing when using generative AI
- artificial inteligence in research and assignments
DTU students and employees who use Generative AI systems (e.g. ChatGPT or BingChat) must make sure to document and acknowledge their use of AI – just like using any other tool.
If you use Generative AI, it is your own responsibility to document your use and make it clear where your knowledge stems from, just as it is your own responsibility to adhere to the academic standards of honesty, transparency and accountability as outlined in DTU's code of honour and Principles for good scientific conduct (DTU Inside/DTU login), in particular The Vancouver Guidelines.
If you use Generative AI to find, rephrase or generate answers, knowledge, solutions or texts, make sure that you:
- Acknowledge your use of Generative AI
- Save the AI result (including the date, your search prompt, the result and the AI version/model) either as a screenshot or as an appendix for future documentation
- If possible, explore the sources on which your AI tool has based its text and data mining and make a note of this.
Please beware that content, results, links etc. that you discover via generative AI may be incorrect - simply because of the way generative AI models are built.
How to cite Generative IA in your texts
There are many different citation styles available. DTU does not have a standard ”output style”, however, your study programme, your research field and/or specific journals may have particular citation guidelines.
Below, you will find links to various “output styles” and their guidelines in relation to Generative AI:
- APA style
- MLA style
- IEEE style
- Harvard style
- Chicago style
- Vancouver style
- Elsevier policy for use of generative AI
If you have questions about reference management and “output styles”, please e-mail bibliotek@dtu.dk
Using AI images, video and sound
When you use Generative AI to produce new images, video or sound, it is important that you familiarize yourself with the types of licenses that are associated with the use of the material and that you include any information about license types when you use and cite the content.
Just as with text content, you must cite your sources correctly when using AI generated images.
Copyright and AI
Generative AI produces content from huge amounts of data collected from the internet. The data that the AI system is based on is not necessarily publicly available and it may be copyright protected.
You cannot be sure whether the material generated by AI, including AI generated images, video or sound, may be used commercially without permission from the copyright owner.
If you use copyright protected material or material made available due to a usage rights agreement, this may amount to copyright infringement.
If you have questions about AI and copyright, please e-mail ophavsret@dtu.dk