Can you credit ChatGPT as a co-author?

What is ChatGPT?

ChatGPT (Chat Generative Pre-trained Transformer) is a natural language processing tool based on artificial intelligence. AI chatbots have been around already for quite some time, but unlike Siri or Alexa, ChatGPT can produce strikingly human-like, fluid text on a huge range of topics.

Can you credit ChatGPT as a co-author?

In the early days of ChatGPT, a few papers have been published that name ChatGPT as a co-author. In the meantime, many publishers have revised their publication guidelines.

If you're planning on using ChatGPT, we recommend checking the editorial policy of the journal in which you would like to publish. Most journals have decided that ChatGPT or other artificial intelligence language models do not meet the criteria to be cited as a co-author. But, some journals are more lenient than others. A few examples:

• If you intend to publish at Springer/Nature or Elsevier, you're not allowed to credit ChatGPT or other artificial intelligence chatbots as a co-author, but you may use it as long as you indicate it in the appropriate section of your paper.
• If you intend to publish in a Science journal, you're not allowed
  to credit ChatGPT or other artificial intelligence tools as a co-author. You
  should also seek permission from the editor before using such tools for
  text and visual materials. Note that this does not apply to the legitimate use of
  AI, for example, datasets.

Note that this news article is published on 6 February 2023. Journals are currently updating their editorial policies. If you've used ChatGPT in any way in the writing process, you should double-check the editorial policy of the journal you're submitting to.