The Vancouver (International Committee of Medical Journal Editors) Style does not currently include referencing guidelines for AI tools such as ChatGPT.
This is interim advice only and subject to change.
It is recommended that references for generative AI content be based on the referencing guidance for
Rather than citing Generative AI as a source of information, you should, instead, be citing the use of a tool - Generative AI.
References should provide clear and accurate information for each source and should identify where they have been used in your work.
Generative AI tools such as ChatGPT cannot accurately cite their own sources.
Any references they provide may be false or non-existent – you should always check the original source for any references that are generated.
It is recommended prompts submitted to generate content be included in an Appendix to your paper or presentation.
In text format for App/software
(Software name, response to user input, Year, Month Day)
App/Software Reference
1. OpenAI. ChatGPT [Computer Software] 2023 [Cited 2023 February 15]. Available from: https://chat.openai.com.
In text citation
As generated by the generative AI program (ChatGPT, 2023)
According to ChatGPT (2023) there is a strong correlation between diabetes and obesity...
AI can be used to create product designs and optimise business processes (ChatGPT, response to user input, February 22, 2023).
If the chat is saved, is shareable, or otherwise retrievable - cite ChatGPT as software, otherwise cite as 'personal communications', otherwise cite as App/ Software
This guide divides reference list entries into different formats for ease of use.
Select the format you require from the Reference List Entries menu or select from the links below: