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Your essay is done. Then you scroll to the bottom of the assignment brief and see a new line: “Include an AI disclosure statement.” You used ChatGPT to brainstorm and fix a few sentences, but you have no idea what to write. Say too little and it looks like you are hiding something. Say too much and you worry your teacher will mark you down.
You are not alone in this. AI is now part of how most students study, and schools are still catching up with clear rules. This guide explains what an AI disclosure statement is, when you need one and what to put in it. It also gives you copy-ready AI disclosure statement examples, a free builder and a printable PDF of templates you can adjust in a few minutes.
What is an AI disclosure statement?
An AI disclosure statement (also called an AI use disclosure statement) is a short note that explains how you used AI tools in your work. It names the tool, says when and why you used it, shows which parts it touched, and explains what you did yourself. It keeps you honest and shows your teacher exactly where your own thinking begins.
Before you write your statement, it helps to know how your draft reads. You can check it with the free Skyline Academic AI detector so there are no surprises. No detector is perfect, ours included, so use the result as a guide.
Why AI disclosure statements matter now
AI use among students has grown fast, and disclosure is how schools are trying to keep work fair. In the HEPI Student Generative AI Survey 2025, 92% of UK undergraduates said they used AI tools, up from 66% the year before. The share using AI for assessments rose from 53% to 88%.
The same survey found that only 36% of students had received AI skills training from their university. So most students are using AI without much guidance on how to do it properly. A disclosure statement closes that gap. It lets you use AI in the ways your course allows, while being open about it.
There is a second reason disclosure matters. AI detectors are not always right, and honest writers sometimes get flagged. A clear statement written at the time you submit gives your teacher context before any question comes up.
Not sure how to use AI the right way?
Check your draft with the free Skyline AI detector, then talk to a 1:1 tutor about what your course allows and how to keep your work in your own voice.
AI disclosure vs AI citation: what is the difference?
A disclosure statement explains how you used AI across your work. A citation credits specific AI output that you quote or paraphrase in your text. Many students mix these up, but you may need one, the other, or both.
The MLA Style Center puts it simply: AI output “is not a source in the traditional sense,” so describing your use can go beyond citation. If you quote a line ChatGPT wrote, you cite it. If ChatGPT helped you plan your structure, you disclose it.
| What to compare | AI disclosure statement | AI citation |
|---|---|---|
| What it does | Explains how you used AI across the work | Credits a specific piece of AI output |
| When you need it | When your course asks, or AI shaped your ideas, structure or wording | When you quote or paraphrase AI-generated text |
| Where it goes | Separate section, method section, cover note or author note | In-text citation plus reference or works cited entry, or a note in Chicago |
| What it includes | Tool, dates, purpose, parts affected, your own changes | Tool, company, date, and prompt or link, depending on the style |
When do you need an AI disclosure statement?
You need an AI disclosure statement whenever your teacher, course or school asks for one, and it is a smart idea any time AI shaped your ideas, structure or wording. If you are unsure, check the course policy or ask your teacher before you submit.
When your teacher or school asks
This is the clearest case. Many courses now ask for a statement on every assignment, even if you did not use AI. Follow the exact format your teacher gives, because their instructions come before any general guide, including this one.
When AI shaped your ideas, wording or research
If AI suggested topics, helped you outline, summarized readings or reworded your sentences, that use affected your work. Disclosing it is the honest move, even if nobody asked.
When you only used spell check or grammar fixes
This is a gray area. The Chicago Manual of Style says simple formatting changes do not need to be disclosed, but AI grammar and rewriting tools can change more than you think. If a tool rewrote whole sentences, mention it. If your course says to disclose any AI use, do so.
When you did not use AI at all
If your course requires a statement and you did not use AI, write a short line saying so. The APA AI Contribution Statement Guide recommends exactly this.
What to include in an AI disclosure statement
A good AI disclosure statement answers five simple questions: which tool, when, for what, where in the work, and what you did yourself. The APA guide lists the dates you used the tool, the prompts or what you asked it to do, the sections that contain its output, and the ideas it generated and how you used them.
Here is a simple checklist you can follow.
- The name of the AI tool, and the model if you know it.
- The date or dates you used it.
- What you used it for, such as brainstorming, outlining, editing or summarizing.
- Which parts of your work it affected.
- What you did yourself: what you changed, checked or rejected.
- Your prompts, if your teacher asks for them.
Keep your prompts and chat history even if you do not include them. APA advises students to keep a record of the prompts they used, and an AI log makes your statement easy to write and easy to back up later.
Where to put your AI disclosure statement
Put your statement wherever your teacher asks. If there are no instructions, the APA guide suggests three places: a separate page after the title page with the label “AI Contribution Statement,” inside your method section, or in an author note on the title page.
For essays without a method section, many students add the statement at the end of the paper, before the reference list, or in a cover note when they submit online. The key is that your teacher can find it easily and read it before grading.
How to keep a simple AI use log
The easiest way to write an honest statement is to keep a short log while you work. The APA guide calls this an AI contribution journal, and it can be as simple as a note on your phone or a table at the end of your draft.
Each time you use an AI tool, write down four things: the date, the tool, what you asked it to do, and what you did with the answer. For example: “Oct 3, ChatGPT, asked for three possible thesis statements, used none but it helped me narrow my topic.” That one line takes ten seconds and saves you from guessing later.
A log also helps when different classes have different rules. If one teacher allows AI for brainstorming and another bans it, your log shows you stayed within each rule. And if a detector ever flags your work, your log, your chat links and your version history together tell a clear story of how your work was made.
When you finish the assignment, turn your log into a statement. Group similar uses together, keep the parts your teacher cares about, and write it in two to five plain sentences.
How to write an AI disclosure statement in 5 steps
Writing a statement takes about five minutes if you keep track as you work. Follow these steps.
- Check your course policy first, so you know what AI use is allowed and what format your teacher wants.
- List every way you used AI, including small tasks like rewording a paragraph or summarizing a reading.
- Note the tool, the dates and the parts of your work each use affected.
- Explain what you did yourself, such as rewriting suggestions, checking facts or choosing which ideas to keep.
- Write it in plain first person, keep it short, and add your prompts or chat links if your teacher asks for them.
AI disclosure statement builder
Tick what you used AI for, fill in the details, and copy your statement. Edit it to match your teacher’s instructions.
Your statement
This tool runs in your browser only. Nothing you type is saved or sent. Always check your course policy, because your teacher’s format comes first.
What does an AI disclosure statement look like?
A typical AI disclosure statement is two to five sentences written in the first person. It sits on its own, usually under a short label such as “AI Disclosure Statement” or “AI Use Statement,” and reads like a plain explanation, not a legal form.
Here is a sample AI disclosure statement for a typical essay where AI helped with planning and editing:
“AI Disclosure Statement: I used ChatGPT (OpenAI) between October 3 and October 6, 2026, to brainstorm possible topics and to suggest a rough outline. I chose the final topic myself and changed the outline to fit my own argument. I also used it to check grammar in my introduction and conclusion, and I accepted only the suggestions that kept my meaning. All research, analysis and writing are my own, and I take full responsibility for this work.”
Notice what it does. It names the tool and dates, lists each use, shows which parts were affected and makes clear what you did yourself. That is the pattern every good example follows.
AI disclosure statement examples and templates
Here are copy-ready AI disclosure statement examples for the most common situations. They are templates, so change the details to match exactly what you did and what your teacher asks for. Replace everything in square brackets. Prefer a printable copy? Download the free AI disclosure statement examples PDF with all six templates and a checklist.
Brainstorming only
“I used [tool name] on [date] to brainstorm possible topics for this essay. I chose the final topic myself, and I did all the research, outlining and writing without AI.”
Outline and structure help
“I used [tool name] on [date] to suggest an outline for this paper. I changed the order of sections and added my own points. All the writing in the final paper is my own.”
Grammar and editing
“I used [tool name] on [date] to check grammar and suggest clearer wording in sections [section names]. I reviewed each suggestion and accepted only the ones that kept my meaning and voice.”
Research and summaries
“I used [tool name] on [date] to summarize [number] readings and explain [concept]. I checked every summary against the original sources, and all quotes and citations come from the sources themselves.”
Coding or data help
“I used [tool name] on [date] to help debug the code in [file or section]. I tested and edited the code myself and can explain how each part works.”
No AI used
“I did not use any generative AI tools to research, plan, write or edit this assignment.”
How APA, MLA and Chicago handle AI
Each major style guide now has advice on AI, and they agree on one thing: be clear about what the AI did. They differ on format, so use the style your course asks for. If you need full citation examples, our guides on how to cite ChatGPT in APA and MLA and how to cite a secondary source walk you through each format.
APA treats the company as the author. Its guide to citing generative AI gives this reference example: OpenAI. (2025). ChatGPT [Large language model]. https://chatgpt.com/ with in-text citations like (OpenAI, 2025). APA also suggests describing how you used the tool, for example: “I used ChatGPT (OpenAI, 2025) to edit my paper and provide feedback on clarity and flow.”
MLA does not treat the AI tool as an author. Its guide to citing generative AI describes what was generated (often the prompt), then names the tool, the version, the company, the date and a link to the chat.
Chicago usually uses a footnote or endnote rather than a bibliography entry, such as “Text generated by ChatGPT, OpenAI, [date], [URL].” It also allows you to name the tool in your sentence instead, and to say if you edited the output.
| Style | How to cite AI output | How to describe your use |
|---|---|---|
| APA | Company as author, for example (OpenAI, 2025), plus a reference entry | A sentence in the text or method section, or an AI contribution statement |
| MLA | Works cited entry describing the prompt, then tool, version, company, date and link | A note or statement showing where AI ends and your work begins |
| Chicago | A numbered footnote or endnote, or naming the tool in your sentence | Say in the text or note if you edited the output |
AI disclosure statement in APA style
APA has published an AI Contribution Statement Guide for student papers. It says the statement is not a formal APA requirement unless your instructor or school sets one. When you do need one, the guide suggests a paragraph that covers the dates, your prompts or what you asked the tool to do, the sections that contain its output, and how you used its ideas. Its example begins: “I used ChatGPT (OpenAI, 2026) during the week of September 14, 2026, to assist with writing and editing my paper.” Add the tool to your reference list, for example: OpenAI. (2026). ChatGPT [Large language model]. https://chatgpt.com
Generative AI disclosure statements for research papers and journals
If you are publishing research, journals usually have their own AI rules. The Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE) position on authorship and AI tools says AI tools cannot be listed as authors because they “cannot take responsibility for the submitted work.” Authors should disclose which tool they used and how in the Materials and Methods (or a similar section), and they stay fully responsible for every part of the paper. Always check the journal’s own author guidelines before you submit.
Common mistakes to avoid
The most common mistake is being too vague. “I used AI to help” tells your teacher nothing. Say which tool, for what, and where.
The second mistake is hiding major use. If AI wrote large parts of your work, a short “grammar help” note is not honest, and it can cause bigger problems later. Hiding AI use is also why tools that try to disguise AI text tend to backfire, which we explain in do AI humanizers work.
The third mistake is assuming a disclosure makes any use allowed. It does not. If your course bans AI for writing, disclosing it does not make it acceptable, so check the rules before you use AI, not after. Also remember that pasting AI text without credit can count as plagiarism, as we explain in is paraphrasing plagiarism.
The last mistake is not keeping records. Save your prompts, chat links and drafts. If anyone asks questions, you can show exactly what happened.
Can a disclosure statement protect you if an AI detector flags your work?
A disclosure statement does not stop a detector from flagging your work, but it gives your teacher context and shows good faith. Combined with your drafts and notes, it is one of the strongest ways to show how you wrote your work.
Detectors make mistakes, and honest writing can be flagged. We explain why in can AI detectors be wrong. If you are flagged, your statement shows you were open from the start, and your version history backs it up. It also helps to understand what an AI detection score really means before you reply.
How Skyline Academic helps
Skyline Academic is a hub for students who want to use AI the right way and still do their own best work. We are one of the leading 1:1 live tutoring platforms, with a dedicated LMS where you can track your progress, take assignment quizzes, and join workshops and bootcamps. Our tutors help you plan, write and explain your work, and they can show you how to use AI in ways your course allows.
We also offer an AI content detector and a free plagiarism checker, so you can review your draft and your citations before you submit. Not sure what your course allows or how to write your statement? Book a free discovery call and talk it through with us.
Not sure how to use AI the right way?
Check your draft with the free Skyline AI detector, then talk to a 1:1 tutor about what your course allows and how to keep your work in your own voice.
Frequently asked questions
What is an AI disclosure statement?
It is a short note that explains how you used AI tools in an assignment or paper. It names the tool, the dates, what you used it for and which parts of your work it affected, so your reader knows where your own work begins.
What does an AI disclosure statement look like?
It is usually two to five first-person sentences under a label like “AI Disclosure Statement.” It names the tool and dates, lists how you used it, notes which parts were affected and says what you did yourself.
Can you give an example of an AI disclosure statement?
Yes. A simple example is: “I used ChatGPT on October 3, 2026 to brainstorm topics and check grammar in my introduction. I chose the topic and wrote all content myself.” Change the details to match what you actually did.
How do I write an AI disclosure statement?
Check your course policy, list every way you used AI, and note the tool, dates and parts affected. Then explain what you did yourself and write it in plain first-person sentences, adding prompts only if your teacher asks.
Do I need an AI use disclosure statement if I only used ChatGPT for grammar?
It depends on your course rules. Simple spelling or formatting fixes often do not need disclosure, but if AI rewrote sentences or your course asks you to disclose any AI use, include a short statement.
Where do I put an AI disclosure statement in my essay?
Follow your teacher’s instructions first. If there are none, put it on its own page after the title page, in your method section, or at the end of the paper before the references.
How do I write an AI disclosure statement in APA?
APA’s student guide suggests a short paragraph covering the dates, your prompts or tasks, the sections with AI output and how you used its ideas. Place it after the title page, in the Method section or in an author note, and list the tool in your references.
Is an AI disclosure statement the same as citing ChatGPT?
No. A disclosure explains how you used AI across your work, while a citation credits specific AI text you quote or paraphrase. You may need both in the same paper.
Can I write an AI disclosure statement if I did not use AI?
Yes. If your course requires one, write a simple line such as “I did not use any generative AI tools for this assignment.” APA’s guidance recommends doing this when a statement is required.
Does an AI disclosure statement make any AI use acceptable?
No. A disclosure explains your use, but it does not override your course rules. If AI is not allowed for a task, disclosing it does not make it allowed.
Final thoughts
An AI disclosure statement is not a confession. It is a short, honest note that shows your teacher how you worked. Check your course rules, keep a simple log of your AI use, and write your statement in plain words before you submit. Done well, it protects your grade, builds trust with your teacher and lets you use AI as a helper without worry.