Is AI the future of genealogy?

Question

Amy Johnson Crow thinks so. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LnBKjprPTPo

Answer 1

As someone who holds reservations about the intersection of AI and genealogy, I commend Amy for creating such an impactful video!

I do however feel it is important to address an aspect that I believe may require more emphasis: the recognition that AI should never be seen as a replacement for comprehensive research and critical thinking.

Understanding the inherent limitations of AI is essential, including considerations of its training data, potential biases, and the fact that it generates responses based on statistical patterns rather than ensuring factual accuracy. AI lacks the contextual understanding, historical knowledge, and human intuition that experienced genealogists possess. Consequently, there is a risk of unintentionally generating misleading or inaccurate information through the use of AI alone.

By highlighting these limitations (which Amy did a good job at), individuals can approach AI-generated outputs with caution and view them as supplementary tools rather than definitive sources. The verification and cross-referencing of information provided by AI with reliable sources, primary documents, and the expertise of professional genealogists remain indispensable to guarantee accuracy and reliability in genealogical research.

Answer 2

Familysearch and Ancestry uses AI; it appears it’s already in use, but most are unaware of it being used. Fascinating!

If Given the option of living in the 21st or 19th. 

I’ll take a time machine and live in the 19th century

Good YouTube video very informative 

Comments

Ancestry and FamilySearch do incorporate AI techniques in their services. However, it is important to note that they utilize specialized AI techniques rather than full language models.

The AI techniques employed by these platforms are trained on specific data sets (their own) and are tailored to genealogical research. They are designed to process and analyze information within predefined parameters, such as identifying record hints and suggesting potential matches. Unlike full-blown language models, which have a broader understanding of language and context, these AI techniques are more focused on genealogy-specific tasks.

Furthermore, user interactions play a significant role in training and refining these AI techniques. Users' actions, such as accepting or rejecting hints, contribute to the continuous learning and improvement of the algorithms. This iterative feedback loop helps enhance the accuracy and relevance of the suggestions and results provided by the platforms.

Answer 3

Amy is my 19th Cousin! And, like she says, you have to enter the correct information for Chat GPT to work properly and then it NEEDS TO BE CHECKED, and edited!  But it does write a great bio if used correctly!

Answer 4

Thanks for the tip, Paul. It's been a part of our lives than I was aware of.

Answer 5

Thanks for sharing this video. Super interesting.