2024 was the year the genealogy community embraced artificial intelligence as a useful tool for our work as genealogists and family historians. Nicole and I spent many hours learning and teaching about incorporating AI into our research flow. For this final blog post of the year, it’s only fitting that we look back at where we’ve come. Since we’ve written many blog posts and recorded many podcasts on AI, I’m providing a curated list. If you are new to AI, I suggest you start reading, listening, and, best of all, trying it out!

Blog Posts

Nicole wrote several blog posts about AI tools for transcription, AI and DNA, and Airtable AI. I used AI for each part of the Research Like a Pro process while researching my ancestors, Isabella Weatherford, and wrote a blog post for each step.

AI-Powered Full-Text Search of Handwritten Text at FamilySearch posted 3 March 2024 by Nicole

Disclosing Use of AI for Writing Assistance in Genealogy  posted 12 April 2024 by Nicole

Transcribing Document Images with ChatGPT and Claude posted 3 May 2024 by Nicole

Transkribus: Revolutionizing Handwritten Text Analysis with AI posted 2 July 2024 by Nicole

AI and Family History: Review of “Co-Intelligence: Living and Working With AI” posted 21 July 2024 by Diana

Using Airtable AI Tools to Evaluate DNA Matches posted 28 July 2024 by Nicole

Using AI to Find Research Questions and Write Objectives: Isabella Weatherford Project Part 1 posted 4 August 2024 by Diana

Create DNA Descendancy Diagrams with AI posted 6 August 2024 by Nicole

Using AI in Timeline Creation and Source Analysis: Isabella Weatherford Project Part 2 posted 15 August 2024 by Diana

Using AI in Locality Research: Isabella Weatherford Project Part 3 posted 25 August 2024 by Diana

Using AI in Research Planning: Isabella Weatherford Project Part 4 posted 1 September by Diana

Using AI in Research Logging : Isabella Weatherford Project Part 5 posted 15 September by Diana

Using AI in Report Writing: Isabella Weatherford Project Part 6 posted 27 September 2024 by Diana

Using AI to Analyze Tax Data in a Research Log posted 3 November 2024 by Diana

5 Steps for Capturing and Sharing Family Stories with AI Assistance posted 17 November 2024 by Diana

Using AI to Analyze Your Pedigree for a Four-Generation Project for Accreditation through ICAPGen posted 23 November 2024 by Diana

The Value of Setting up a Genealogy Research Project in Claude.ai posted 1 December 2024 by Diana

Podcasts

Nicole and I recorded podcasts based on our written blog posts and often elaborated on the concepts in the blog post.

RLP 310: Disclosing Use of AI in Genealogy Writing posted 17 June 2024

RLP 311: Giving Credit to AI Tools in Genealogy Writing posted 24 June 2024

RLP 317: Transcribing Document Images with ChatGPT and Claude posted 5 August 2024

RLP 318: AI Photo Analysis with Mark Thompson posted 12 August 2024

RLP 319: Uses of AI in Genealogy with Steve Little posted 19 August 2024

RLP 320: Using AI to Find Research Questions and Write Objectives posted 26 August 2024

RLP 321: Using Airtable AI Tools to Evaluate DNA Matches posted 2 September 2024

RLP 322: Review of “Co-Intelligence: Living and Working With AI” posted 9 September 2024

RLP 323: Create DNA Descendancy Diagrams with AI posted 16 September 2024

RLP 324: Using AI for Timelines and Analysis posted 23 September 2024

RLP 325: Using AI with Locality Research posted 30 September 2024

RLP 326: Using AI with Research Planning posted 7 October 2024

RLP 328: Using AI in Research Logging posted 21 October 2024

RLP 329: Using AI in Report Writing posted 28 October 2024

RLP 334: Transkribus: Handwritten Text Analysis with AI posted 2 December 2024

RLP 337: Handwritten Text Recognition by Claude 3.5 Sonnet posted 23 December 2024

Family Locket YouTube Channel

Our YouTube channel also has several short videos where Nicole and I demonstrate various uses for AI.

What’s Next?

As AI evolves, Nicole and I will continue to share what we’re learning. Watch for our 2025 AI presentations at Rootstech, the National Genealogical Society Conference, and on Legacy Family Tree Webinars. We’re excited to see what the future holds for us as genealogists and family historians as we incorporate AI into our research.

Best of luck in all your genealogical endeavors!