Read the permission rules first
A course, institution, journal and research project may have different rules. Revising a draft, examining data and uploading someone else’s work are different actions. Check the relevant data policies before sharing personal or confidential research data.
The distinction in APA’s 2025 guidance
APA Style distinguishes a specific, shareable conversation that is useful to the reader from the general record of a tool. A conversation reference considers the company, conversation date, title, tool or model and link. Adding a version number to every use is not recommended as a default requirement; a model name can be provided where available.
A working template for the methods section
“[Tool/model] was used on [date] for [purpose]. [Type of input] was processed. The output was checked using [verification method]; [section] was rewritten by the researcher.”
This is a template to fill in, not a declaration that a use has occurred. Describe what you actually did in your own work. If you read the sources, cite those primary sources; a tool suggesting them does not replace them.
A final check
- Has every generated reference and quotation been compared with the original?
- Does a shared conversation contain confidential data?
- Is the disclosure included in the relevant part of the study?
- Does authorship responsibility rest with real people?
Sources and provenance
Source check / web edition: 14 October 2026. Historical documents retain their own original dates.