How do I cite Perplexity in Chicago?

To cite Perplexity in Chicago (18th edition), include the author, title, date, and source location. Use our free citation generator for automatic formatting.

How to Cite Perplexity in Chicago (18th edition)

Learn how to cite Perplexity AI answers, threads, and the sources they cite in Chicago format (18th edition). This guide includes the reference list format, in-text citation examples, and key formatting rules.

Chicago Bibliography Format

Here is the standard Chicago format for citing Perplexity in your bibliography:

Cite in a note, not the bibliography: 1. Perplexity, response to “Text of your question,” Perplexity AI, Month Day, Year, https://www.perplexity.ai/search/….

Chicago Example for Perplexity

Chicago does not give Perplexity an entry in the bibliography — it is cited in a note only. Here is that note, written by hand and checked against the official Chicago guidance:

1. Perplexity, response to “I’d like a list of grammar topics that a student should understand by the time they graduate from high school,” Perplexity AI, May 20, 2025, https://www.perplexity.ai/search/a457cb8c-c663-4c9b-b34e-cb03d8108b35.

Chicago In-Text Citation

Use one of these formats when referencing this source within your paper:

Parenthetical

Footnote: 1. Perplexity, response to “I’d like a list of grammar topics that a student should understand by the time they graduate from high school,” Perplexity AI, May 20, 2025, https://www.perplexity.ai/search/a457cb8c-c663-4c9b-b34e-cb03d8108b35.

Narrative

Shortened note: 2. Perplexity, response to “list of grammar topics.”

Key Chicago Formatting Rules

Credit Perplexity’s wording in the text or a numbered note; CMOS 18 §14.112 does not usually list chatbot output in the bibliography.
Put Perplexity in the author position of the note and Perplexity AI as the publisher.
Add the thread link only when it is public; otherwise stop after the date.
Give each web source Perplexity linked its own Chicago note and bibliography entry when you rely on its content.

Step-by-Step Guide

Gather source information: Collect the author name, title, publication date, and URL or DOI for your Perplexity.
Format the reference: Arrange the elements following the Chicago (18th edition) template shown above.
Create the in-text citation: Add a parenthetical or narrative citation in your paper where you reference this source.
Add to your bibliography: Include the full formatted citation at the end of your paper.
Double-check formatting: Verify italics, punctuation, capitalization, and hanging indents match Chicago requirements.

Evidence and review notes

Worked examples on this page are written by hand from the style's own published guidance and checked against it, because the general CSL styles do not encode this source's rules. Editorial guidance and sources in this section were reviewed on 2026-08-14.

Metadata to collect

the company that built the tool (Perplexity AI)
the date of the search thread
the thread title Perplexity assigned
the exact question you asked
the numbered web sources Perplexity cited
the public perplexity.ai/search link

Common metadata traps

Perplexity builds each answer from numbered web sources; open those pages and cite them directly for any fact, because APA’s Part 2 post treats AI used as a search tool like any other route to a published source.
Perplexity’s footnote numbers are not your citations; a summary can misstate what a source says, so check the wording against the page before quoting or paraphrasing it.
Do not name an underlying model unless the thread itself displays one; APA’s official example lists only Perplexity.

Editorial sources

Chicago Manual of Style — citation quick guide →

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I cite Perplexity in Chicago?: To cite Perplexity in Chicago (18th edition), include the author, title, date, and source location. Use our free citation generator for automatic formatting.
What is the Chicago format for Perplexity citation?: The Chicago format for Perplexity is: Cite in a note, not the bibliography: 1. Perplexity, response to “Text of your question,” Perplexity AI, Month Day, Year, https://www.perplexity.ai/search/….
What does the in-text citation look like for Perplexity in Chicago?: In Chicago, the in-text citation for the example above is Footnote: 1. Perplexity, response to “I’d like a list of grammar topics that a student should understand by the time they graduate from high school,” Perplexity AI, May 20, 2025, https://www.perplexity.ai/search/a457cb8c-c663-4c9b-b34e-cb03d8108b35.