This episode features guest Richard Miller, who discusses the Goldie May AI assistant. Richard explains the AI assistant was added to provide genealogists with an injection of brain power when they feel stuck on a family line. He says the tool helps users find answers by proposing different thinking options. They discuss how the tool assists with core research tasks. The AI assistant helps with research objectives by reviewing sources for gaps and performing pedigree analysis. It connects via Tree Crossing to tree programs like Rootsmagic and Legacy, allowing users to ask the AI assistant about their tree data. For building a timeline, Goldie May generates a “subway map” timeline showing the approximate progression of a person’s life over time, incorporating data and historical context from FamilySearch, which the AI assistant can then reason over.
The hosts discuss the AI assistant’s role in documentation and planning. The AI assistant generates citations approximating Evidence Explained and can create custom citations in any style from pasted content or screenshots. Since Goldie May is a browser extension, this allows the AI assistant to read a webpage, write a citation and description, and attach the source to FamilySearch. For locality research, users can send screenshots of records or wiki pages to Goldie May, which provides context for the AI chat. The AI accesses the Goldie May Catalog, a listing of collections across major and minor genealogy sites, and suggests records to search. The discussion covers transcription, where the AI assistant uses Gemini 3 to transcribe images added to the research log. For research logging, the AI analyzes automatically logged links and data to create reports, summarize projects, and summarize where the user left off. Finally, Richard shares how the AI assists with writing; she prompted the model to review sources and memories about an ancestor to generate a historically accurate story at a 4th-grade level. Listeners learn how to use the Goldie May AI assistant to streamline tedious tasks, improve documentation, and efficiently generate family narratives.
This summary was generated by Google Gemini.
Links
Goldie May – https://www.goldiemay.com/
Tree Crossing – https://treecrossing.com/
Goldie May AI Assistant Videos:
AI just changed how much genealogy you can get done – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vHoTMgopnIk
The FULL, raw look at Goldie May’s AI assistant for genealogists – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kimoZDQPN5g
New genealogy AI features announced this week at RootsTech 2026 – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YRtjvfe7zyo
Sponsor – Newspapers.com
For listeners of this podcast, Newspapers.com is offering new subscribers 20% off a Publisher Extra subscription so you can start exploring today. Just use the code “FamilyLocket” at checkout.
Research Like a Pro Resources
Airtable Universe – Nicole’s Airtable Templates – https://www.airtable.com/universe/creator/usrsBSDhwHyLNnP4O/nicole-dyer
Airtable Research Logs Quick Reference – by Nicole Dyer – https://familylocket.com/product-tag/airtable/
Research Like a Pro: A Genealogist’s Guide book by Diana Elder with Nicole Dyer on Amazon.com – https://amzn.to/2x0ku3d
14-Day Research Like a Pro Challenge Workbook – digital – https://familylocket.com/product/14-day-research-like-a-pro-challenge-workbook-digital-only/ and spiral bound – https://familylocket.com/product/14-day-research-like-a-pro-challenge-workbook-spiral-bound/
Research Like a Pro Webinar Series – monthly case study webinars including documentary evidence and many with DNA evidence – https://familylocket.com/product-category/webinars/
Research Like a Pro eCourse – independent study course – https://familylocket.com/product/research-like-a-pro-e-course/
RLP Study Group – upcoming group and email notification list – https://familylocket.com/services/research-like-a-pro-study-group/
Research Like a Pro Institute Courses – https://familylocket.com/product-category/institute-course/
Research Like a Pro with DNA Resources
Research Like a Pro with DNA: A Genealogist’s Guide to Finding and Confirming Ancestors with DNA Evidence book by Diana Elder, Nicole Dyer, and Robin Wirthlin – https://amzn.to/3gn0hKx
Research Like a Pro with DNA eCourse – independent study course – https://familylocket.com/product/research-like-a-pro-with-dna-ecourse/
RLP with DNA Study Group – upcoming group and email notification list – https://familylocket.com/services/research-like-a-pro-with-dna-study-group/
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