Is AI an author?
What makes someone an author becomes more complicated with AI. Authorship is typically defined in scholarship as someone who not only writes the work but also has legal responsibility for the publication. For research studies, authorship, has been expanded to include all kinds of contributions, including conducting data analysis or the initial conceptualization of a study through the CRediT model of assigning authors.
Currently, many publishers require that use of generative AI tools be disclosed while AI on its own may be considered an author depending on the venue, AI generated work cannot be copyrighted.
When you use AI to generate content, including words, images, or video, it is still based on the work of others and needs to be cited just as you would when using another persons’ words or images. Citing when you use AI content also helps ensure you are avoiding potential plagiarism and providing accurate information about what your work is based on. Here is some guidance for attributing AI-generated content in three of the most common citation styles: