How to Cite AI: A New Model for Responsible Authorship

By Tarik Karenga [v.a.] and Google Gemma 3-27B

April 27, 2026

Academic AI Citation

Cite AI Content

As Artificial Intelligence increasingly contributes to creative endeavors, existing copyright legislation struggles to address ownership and accountability. Current practice often incorrectly attributes AI-generated text to the corporations behind the models. While these companies bear legal responsibility, attributing authorship to them instead of a human is academically dishonest; it’s essentially a form of plagiarism. Corporations aren’t authors. The Vicarious Authorship model (Karenga [v.a.] & Google Gemma 3-27B, 2026) provides a framework for legally and ethically acknowledging and documenting the use of Artificial Intelligence in creative works by designating a human author as the “Principal Author” who assumes full responsibility for outputs generated with AI assistance.

This guide will show you how to cite AI using the Vicarious Authorship model within common citation styles (APA, MLA, and Chicago), ensuring ethical practice and clear attribution in an age of AI-assisted creation, while addressing a key concern many academics will have: how seamlessly can this be integrated into their existing workflows? This post will therefore be particularly valuable for:

• Academic journals establishing policies around authorship with AI tools
• Universities incorporating AI into curricula and research
• Publishers navigating AI-assisted content creation
• Creative industries seeking a legally sound framework for collaborative projects involving artificial intelligence

How to Cite: The Standard Format

The core principle of citing under the Vicarious Authorship model is transparency: clearly indicating that AI was used and identifying the human author who directs the AI and maintains full responsibility for the final work. This is achieved through a standard attribution: the “[v.a.]” notation following the Principal Author’s name. The citation also includes a disclosure to provide details about the AI’s contribution, specifically what tasks it performed (e.g., generating dialogue, assisting with research) and its version number if known. Importantly, this disclosure also clearly articulates the Principal Author's control over the creative process, including developing the core concept, providing all prompts, selecting and editing content, and ensuring accuracy and originality (Karenga [v.a.] & Google Gemma 3-27B, 2026). The standard citation format is as follows:

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The Vicarious Authorship Statement

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The detailed description included within the standard citation format is referred to as the Vicarious Authorship Statement, and is included at the beginning of the reference list entry, after the title information. This statement is a crucial disclosure that transparently documents the AI’s role in the creative process, establishes the Principal Author's control and accountability, and supports legal defensibility under the Vicarious Authorship model. It clarifies that while AI contributed to the work, full authorship, including legal responsibility, intentionality, and originality, rests with the human Principal Author. The Vicarious Authorship Statement (i.e., the disclosure) encompasses the following elements:

1. 1. AI Contribution: A detailed description of the AI’s specific role(s) in the creation process (e.g., initial draft generation, research assistance, worldbuilding).
2. 2. Prompt Engineering Details: Specific information regarding the prompts used to guide the AI's output, outlining the level of direction and control exerted by the Principal Author.
3. 3. Principal Author’s Editorial Process: An explanation of the selection criteria employed when choosing AI-generated content, as well as a description of all editing, revising, and integrating processes undertaken by the human author.
4. 4. Accuracy & Originality Verification: A summary of the steps taken to ensure factual accuracy, originality (including copyright compliance), and adherence to ethical standards.
5. 5. Legal Responsibility Affirmation: A clear statement explicitly affirming that the Principal Author assumes full legal responsibility for all aspects of the final work.
6. 6. Standard Phrase: The inclusion of the phrase: “[v.a.] indicates contribution under the Vicarious Authorship model, recognizing the AI Contributor as a collaborative author.”

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Citing AI in Practice: Examples by Style

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Let’s see how the Vicarious Authorship model looks integrated with APA, MLA, and Chicago styles. We'll focus on blog posts, journals, and books for these examples.

Important Note: Citation details can vary slightly depending on your specific source type. Always consult the official style guide!

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Download the Zotero & Mendeley APA styles

Citing AI in APA Style

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The American Psychological Association (APA, 2020) style is commonly used in social sciences and education. Integrating the Vicarious Authorship model with APA requires a slight modification of standard author formatting.

APA In-Text Citation

APA uses a uniform (Author, Year) format for in-text citations across all source types, including blogs, journals, and books. For example:

• (Karenga [v.a.] & Google Gemma 3-27B, 2026). Or, if paraphrasing: Karenga [v.a.] and Google Gemma 3-27B (2026), developed a framework…

APA Reference List Entry

In the reference list entry, which differs by source, a more detailed description is crucial for providing comprehensive documentation and ensuring transparency regarding the use of artificial intelligence in research and writing. For instance:

• Blog Post: Karenga, T. [v.a.], & Google Gemma 3-27B. (2026, April 27). Vicarious authorship: The model. [This work was created collaboratively between Tarik Karenga (Principal Author) and Google Gemma 3-27B (Large language model). Gemma generated initial drafts of dialogue and assisted with research and worldbuilding, under the direction of Karenga who developed the core concept, provided all prompts, selected and edited the content, and ensured its accuracy and originality. Karenga assumes full responsibility for the final product. [v.a.] indicates contribution under the Vicarious Authorship model, recognizing Google Gemma 3-27B as a collaborative author.]. Vicarious Authorship. https://www.vicariousauthorship.com/vicarious-authorship.html
• Journal: Author, A. A. [v.a.], & AI Contributor Name (version if known). (Year). Title of article. [The Vicarious Authorship Statement]. Journal Name, Volume(issue), Page range. DOI/URL
• Book: Author, A. A. [v.a.], & AI Contributor Name (version if known). (Year). Title of book. [The Vicarious Authorship Statement]. Publisher.

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Cite under the Vicarious Authorship model in Zotero or Mendeley Reference Manager with APA Style 7th Edition support.

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Citing AI in MLA Style

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The Modern Language Association (MLA, 2021) style is prevalent in humanities disciplines and, like APA, emphasizes author function and requires listing contributors. However, MLA also necessitates adaptation when addressing works created with AI assistance. While traditionally focusing on authorial intent and contribution, the Vicarious Authorship model shifts emphasis towards responsibility as a key marker of authorship.

MLA In-Text Citation

• For works with page numbers (like a book or report): (Karenga [v.a.] and Google Gemma 3-27B page number). Or, if paraphrasing: According to Karenga [v.a.] and Google Gemma 3-27B, Vicarious Authorship is a novel legal and ethical framework (page number).
• For online sources/blogs without specific page numbers: (Karenga [v.a.] and Google Gemma 3-27B). Or, if paraphrasing: Karenga [v.a.] and Google Gemma 3-27B developed a novel legal and ethical framework...

MLA Works Cited Entry

In the Works Cited entry, a detailed explanation is vital.

• Blog Post: Karenga, Tarik [v.a.], and Google Gemma 3-27B. “Vicarious Authorship: The Model.” [This work was created collaboratively between Tarik Karenga (Principal Author) and Google Gemma 3-27B (Large language model). Gemma generated initial drafts of dialogue and assisted with research and worldbuilding, under the direction of Karenga who developed the core concept, provided all prompts, selected and edited the content, and ensured its accuracy and originality. Karenga assumes full responsibility for the final product. [v.a.] indicates contribution under the Vicarious Authorship model, recognizing Google Gemma 3-27B as a collaborative author.]. Vicarious Authorship, 27 Apr. 2026, www.vicariousauthorship.com/vicarious-authorship.html
• Journal: Author Last Name, First Name [v.a.], and AI Contributor Name (version if known). “Title of Article.” [The Vicarious Authorship Statement]. Title of Journal, vol. #, no. #, Year, Page range. DOI/URL.
• Book: Author Last Name, First Name [v.a.], and AI Contributor Name (version if known). Title of Book. [The Vicarious Authorship Statement].Publisher, Year.

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Citing AI in Chicago Style

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Chicago style (2024), often used in history and the arts, offers flexibility in citation formats. Regardless of the chosen format, the principle of emphasizing the Principal Author’s accountability remains paramount.

Chicago In-Text Citation (Author-Date System)

• (Karenga [v.a.] and Google Gemma 3-27B 2026). Or, if paraphrasing: Developed by Karenga [v.a.] and Google Gemma 3-27B (2026), this novel legal and ethical framework...

Chicago Reference List Entry

• Blog Post: Karenga, Tarik [v.a.], and Google Gemma 3-27B. 2026. “Vicarious Authorship: The Model.” [This work was created collaboratively between Tarik Karenga (Principal Author) and Google Gemma 3-27B (Large language model). Gemma generated initial drafts of dialogue and assisted with research and worldbuilding, under the direction of Karenga who developed the core concept, provided all prompts, selected and edited the content, and ensured its accuracy and originality. Karenga assumes full responsibility for the final product. [v.a.] indicates contribution under the Vicarious Authorship model, recognizing Google Gemma 3-27B as a collaborative author.]. Vicarious Authorship (blog), April 27. https://www.vicariousauthorship.com/vicarious-authorship.html
• Journal: Author Last Name, First Name [v.a.], and AI Contributor Name (version if known). “Title of Article.” [The Vicarious Authorship Statement]. Title of Journal Volume, no. Issue #, Year (Season/Month): Page range. DOI/URL.
• Book: Author Last Name, First Name [v.a.], and AI Contributor Name (version if known). Year. Title of Book. [The Vicarious Authorship Statement]. Publisher.

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Moving Forward With Vicarious Authorship

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By adopting this citation format, academics and creators can contribute to establishing a clear standard for acknowledging and documenting AI-assisted works. The “[v.a.]” notation serves as a standard attribution and represents only a small change to current practices with minimal disruption; the accompanying Vicarious Authorship Statement serves as a Human-AI collaboration disclosure that provides necessary detail, which can be included as a textual component within reference list entries or in sections like “Materials and Methods” or “Acknowledgements,” depending on disciplinary norms (Karenga [v.a.] & Google Gemma 3-27B, 2026). The Vicarious Authorship model’s emphasis on Principal Author responsibility secures intellectual property rights under existing copyright principles, while ensuring sole accountability for all aspects of the work, from accuracy to ethical considerations. Further refinement and wider adoption will be essential as AI continues to reshape creative industries and scholarly pursuits. To help establish this as a recognized standard, we invite you to advocate for its inclusion in your departmental guidelines and consider submitting it to relevant style guide editors (APA, MLA, Chicago). Sharing this post with colleagues is also greatly appreciated.

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HOW TO CITE THIS BLOG:

Karenga, T. [v.a.], & Google Gemma 3-27B. (2026, April 27). How to cite AI: A new model for responsible authorship. [This work was created collaboratively between Tarik Karenga (Principal Author) and Google Gemma 3-27B (Large language model). Gemma generated initial drafts of dialogue and assisted with research and worldbuilding, under the direction of Karenga who developed the core concept, provided all prompts, selected and edited the content, and ensured its accuracy and originality. Karenga assumes full responsibility for the final product. [v.a.] indicates contribution under the Vicarious Authorship model, recognizing Google Gemma 3-27B as a collaborative author.]. Vicarious Authorship. https://www.vicariousauthorship.com/cite-ai.html

"Live in Truth" (Karenga, 2022, p. 60).

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References:

1. 1. American Psychological Association. (2020). Publication manual of the American Psychological Association (7th ed.).
2. 2. Karenga, T. (2022). The pharaohs’ 5 laws of success (1st ed.). Amenism, Inc.
3. 3. Karenga, T. [v.a.], & Google Gemma 3-27B. (2026, April 27). Vicarious authorship: The model. [This work was created collaboratively between Tarik Karenga (Principal Author) and Google Gemma 3-27B (Large language model). Gemma generated initial drafts of dialogue and assisted with research and worldbuilding, under the direction of Karenga who developed the core concept, provided all prompts, selected and edited the content, and ensured its accuracy and originality. Karenga assumes full responsibility for the final product. [v.a.] indicates contribution under the Vicarious Authorship model, recognizing Google Gemma 3-27B as a collaborative author.]. Vicarious Authorship. https://www.vicariousauthorship.com/vicarious-authorship.html
4. 4. Modern Language Association of America. (2021). MLA handbook (9th ed.).
5. 5. University of Chicago. (2024). The Chicago manual of style (18th ed.). University of Chicago Press.