AI Acknowledgement

Universities / Macquarie University

Macquarie University AI acknowledgement

Macquarie separates two cases: AI output you quote, paraphrase or include (e.g. images) must be cited and referenced in your style, while other uses such as brainstorming or editing may need a signed acknowledgement at the end of the assessment listing tools, prompts and how the output was used.

Checked against Macquarie University's own pages on 9 October 2026 · See the full rules

Write yours

Macquarie University doesn't publish a fixed template, so this uses a general format that covers what it asks for.

Did you use AI?

Your university or journal

Which AI tools?

What did you use it for?

What did you do with what it gave you?

More details · prompts, date, versions
Your prompts and the AI's answers
I used ChatGPT (OpenAI, https://chatgpt.com) on [date] to brainstorm ideas and check grammar and spelling. I rewrote anything I used in my own words. I checked the facts it gave me against the original sources. A full record of my prompts and the outputs is available on request.

Macquarie University's own wording

I, [name], acknowledge using AI tools in this assessment. For each tool: I accessed [tool name and version], entered the prompt [prompt wording] and used the output for [purpose]. I am aware of AI's limitations, critically reviewed all AI output and am responsible for the final content, assertions and conclusions. Signature / Date.

Summarised from Macquarie University's guidance.

The rules at a glance

When you need one
Cite/reference when AI output is used directly (quoted/paraphrased text, included images); an acknowledgement may be needed for other uses like brainstorming, editing or generating examples - check with your lecturer. The AGLC4 guide says idea-generation/planning use should still be acknowledged even with no AI content included.
Where it goes
Acknowledgement goes at the end of the assessment; full transcripts can go in an appendix.
Prompts and outputs
Prompts are part of the acknowledgement; full transcripts can be added in an appendix, and the AGLC4 guide says to save a copy of the transcript of your questions and responses.
Referencing
Directly used AI output must be cited and referenced. APA 7 (treat as software): "OpenAI. (2023). ChatGPT (November 22 version) [Large language model]. https://chat.openai.com/"; in-text (OpenAI, 2023). AGLC4 (written correspondence, Rule 7.12): footnote "Output from ChatGPT, OpenAI to Fred Jones, 24 February 2023." listed under Other in the bibliography. Self-generated AI images in APA get a figure Note with the prompt but no reference-list entry. Guides also exist for Chicago 18, IEEE and Vancouver.
Must include
  • your name
  • AI tool name and version
  • prompts used
  • how/for what purpose the output was used
  • statement that output was critically reviewed and you are responsible for the final content
  • signature and date
  • date accessed (AGLC4 guide)
Also note
  • check with your lecturer for acknowledgement requirements; they may supply a template
  • fact-check AI output against reliable sources
  • AI-generated works are not eligible for copyright under Australian law; check publisher guidelines before publishing AI content
  • some argue AI cannot meet authorship criteria, so its output may need acknowledging rather than referencing - follow your unit convenor

Sources

Your unit outline or the journal's author guide wins if it says something different. Spotted a change? Tell us.