The MLA Style Guide has released guidance on citation for AI generated content, including images. In MLA format, images used in text should include a caption.
For AI generated images, the caption should include a description of the prompt, followed by the AI tool, version (if available), date created, and a stable URL.
Prompt/Description, AI tool, Version, Publisher (of the AI tool), Date, URL.
“Create an expressionist-style image of two people standing on a beach looking at the ocean” prompt, DALL-E, version 3, OpenAI, 23 Sept. 2024, chatgpt.com/share/66f1c3a3-3f90-8000-9750-82c57c4a6592.
“Pointillist painting of a sheep in a sunny field of blue flowers” prompt, DALL-E, version 2, OpenAI, 8 Mar. 2023, labs.openai.com/.
“Generate an image of bigfoot reading a book” prompt, Microsoft Copilot, DALL-E version 3, Microsoft & OpenAI, 28 April 2025, copilot.cloud.microsoft/.
APA has not shared specific guidance on citing AI generated images. APA guidelines on citing images and citing generative AI should both be followed.
Last Name, Initials. (Year). Image title or description [Image format]. Website name. URL
AI Company Name. (year, month day). Title of chat in italics [Description, such as Generative AI chat]. Tool Name/Model. URL of the chat
Microsoft Copilot & OpenAI. (2025). Bigfoot reading a book [AI image generation]. DALL-E Version 3. copilot.cloud.microsoft/