The Family History AI Show – Details, episodes & analysis

Hosts Mark Thompson and Steve Little expertly navigate the rapidly evolving AI landscape, offering practical insights on leveraging AI for your family history research.

Mark and Steve open this episode by discussing lessons that genealogists can learn from Hollywood on the importance of fact-checking. Next, they provide a comprehensive roundup of the top AI image-generation tools. Then, how Google Lens’ big upgrade can greatly simplify your research. 

In this week’s Tip of the Week, learn how AI translation can help you research in another language, and so much more.

With a mix of news, analysis, and hands-on advice, this podcast equips you with the knowledge to harness AI's power in uncovering your family stories. Whether you're a tech-savvy researcher or new to AI, this show offers valuable insights.

I. AI In the News

00:01:16 Hollywood AI Mistake: Lessons for genealogists on fact-checking.

00:04:18 AI Image Generators: Overview of popular tools and their applications.

00:24:22 Google Lens Upgrade: New features for image and text search.

II. Tip of the Week

00:30:13 AI Building Blocks - Translation: Exploring translation and applications in genealogy.

III. RapidFire

00:41:57 Microsoft Edge Tab Organizer: New AI-powered feature for efficient research.

00:44:18 "The AI Scientist": Discussion of AI agents and complex problem-solving.

00:49:10 Eleven Labs Reader Upgrade: Text-to-speech tool now supports 32 languages.

00:53:03 OpenAI's Condé Nast Deal: Improves AI training and new ways to access publications.

ChatGPT: https://chat.openai.com/

DALL-E: https://openai.com/dall-e-2

MidJourney: https://www.midjourney.com/

Google Lens: https://lens.google.com/

Imagen: https://deepmind.google/technologies/imagen-3/

Ideogram: https://ideogram.ai/

Adobe Firefly: https://www.adobe.com/sensei/generative-ai/firefly.html

Eleven Labs Reader: https://elevenlabs.io/

Google Translate: https://translate.google.com/

Microsoft Edge (for Tab Organizer): https://www.microsoft.com/edge

Transkribus: https://readcoop.eu/transkribus/

OpenAI: https://openai.com/

Artificial Intelligence, Genealogy, Family History, AI Tools, Image Generation, Google Lens, OCR Technology, Language Translation, AI Ethics, Research Techniques, DALL-E, Midjourney, Adobe Firefly, Google Imagen, Microsoft Edge, Tab Management, AI Agents, Text-to-Speech, Eleven Labs Reader, OpenAI Partnerships

In this episode, hosts Mark Thompson and Steve Little discuss Microsoft's new AI-enhanced search tool, Deep Search.  Then, they review Google's major list of AI announcements. In the last big story this week, Mark and Steve talk about how photography has changed in the digital age.  

Don’t miss this week’s Tip of the Week, where Mark and Steve provide valuable insights into Building Better Prompts using the role-goal-task-format prompting style.  

The rapid-fire segment covers recent developments in AI image generation, including free access to OpenAI's DALL-E and Midjourney. The hosts also examine OpenAI's safety measures and Elon Musk's controversial AI tools.  

Blending expert analysis and practical advice, this podcast equips listeners to navigate the exciting world of AI in genealogical research and beyond. 

02:57: Microsoft Bing's Deep Search: Microsoft introduces Deep Search, a new feature competing with Perplexity, offering enhanced search capabilities. 

13:27: Google's AI announcements: Google unveils several AI-powered features for Android phones, including voice assistants and image analysis tools. 

24:14: Have we entered the post-photography era? The hosts discuss how AI is transforming photography and its implications for genealogists and family historians. 

33:55: Building Better Prompts: Role, Goal, Task, Format: The hosts explain a more effective method for crafting prompts when working with AI, emphasizing the importance of clear goal-setting. 

42:35: OpenAI's DALL-E free access: DALL-E image generation tool available to free-tier users, expanding access to AI-generated imagery. 

44:36: Midjourney's web platform launch: Midjourney releases a more accessible web-based platform for its image generation tool, offering a free trial. 

46:01: OpenAI's safety scorecard: OpenAI releases a safety scorecard, detailing its efforts to ensure responsible AI development and usage. 

50:22: Elon Musk's AI tools release: X launches new AI tools with fewer restrictions, raising ethical concerns and discussions. 

Microsoft Bing Deep Search: https://www.bing.com 

Perplexity AI: https://www.perplexity.ai 

Google Gemini: https://gemini.google.com 

OpenAI ChatGPT: https://chat.openai.com 

Google Pixel phones: https://store.google.com/category/phones 

DALL-E: https://chat.openai.com 

Midjourney: https://www.midjourney.com/imagine 

X (formerly Twitter): https://twitter.com 

Grok AI: https://grok.x.ai 

International Association of Jewish Genealogical Societies: https://www.iajgs.org 

Adobe Acrobat: https://www.adobe.com/acrobat.html 

Zoom: https://zoom.us 

Artificial Intelligence, Genealogy, Family History, Technology, Digital Photography, Search Engines, Voice Assistants, Image Generation, Prompt Engineering, AI Ethics, Mobile Computing, Research Methods, Microsoft Bing, Google Gemini, OpenAI, DALL-E, Midjourney, Elon Musk, Deep Search, Screen Awareness 

“These tools are so useful […] that even if there are prohibitions against their use, […] there's an incredible temptation to use them surreptitiously.” - Steve Little

Join Mark Thompson and Steve Little as they discuss the AI stories affecting the family history community. AI outages, ethical debates, and cutting-edge tools were all big news this week.   

Also, listen to how OpenAI's new content deals, Google's very bad awful week, and Perplexity's innovative Pages tool, could impact your genealogy research in the future.

Please leave a comment/review to let us know how we’re doing, and what you would like us to discuss in future episodes!

00:30 Major outage of tools on June 4th, 2024

02:48 Ethical considerations for using AI for genealogy

10:38 OpenAI's new content licensing deals

13:54 Google fumbles AI-overview rollout

17:20 Perplexity's innovative Pages tool simplifies research

23:57 OpenAI announces more free stuff included in ChatGPT

29:16 AI Tip of The Week: Treat Your Chatbot Like a Human

32:34 Rapid-fire updates

32:41 OpenAI Announce development of a new large language model

34:08 Partnership between Apple and OpenAI expected soon

35:45 Elon Musk announces $6B investment in Grok.AI

36:38 Meta/Facebook announce a paid version of Meta.AI coming “soon”

39:31 Upcoming Announcements

39:37 Apple’s Worldwide Developer Conference

39:45 Ontario Genealogical Society Conference

40:05 Genealogical Research Institute of Pittsburgh

41:07 Tout fini!

OpenAI: 

https://www.openai.com

ChatGPT: 

https://chatgpt.com/ 

“Genealogy and Artificial Intelligence (AI)” Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/genealogyandai

Google AI Overview:

https://ai.google

Perplexity AI: 

https://www.perplexity.ai

Perplexity Pages Tool:

https://www.perplexity.ai/pages

Anthropic:

https://www.anthropic.com

Meta AI:

https://ai.facebook.com

Ontario Genealogical Society Conference:

https://conference.ogs.on.ca

Genealogical Research Institute of Pittsburgh (GRIP):

https://www.gripitt.org

Apple Worldwide Developer Conference:

https://developer.apple.com/wwdc

Welcome to the first episode of The Family History AI Show!

This week, Mark and Steve dive into the latest developments in AI and how they are transforming the world of genealogy. From the new tools announced recently by OpenAI and Google to big stories from the National Genealogical Society conference, this episode is packed with insights and tips for leveraging AI in your family history research.

Timestamps

00:00 – Intro

2:00 – AI In the News

2:20 – OpenAI announces ChatGPT 4o

9:05 – Google Gemini gets smarter with bigger prompts

13:25 – Family Search offers full-text search to more records

18:16 – National Genealogical Society Conference Update

23:30 – AI Tip – Use AI for things that you are already good at

30:25 – Rapid Fire Topics

30:30 – Microsoft announce “Co-Pilot + PC” and “Recall”

38:05 – Rumor: Apple’s Siri will be improved with ChatGPT

41:25 – Upcoming workshops, events and announcements

The National Genealogical Society AI Toolbox Series

https://www.ngsgenealogy.org/ai/aitoolboxworkshop/

The Ontario Genealogical Society Annual Conference

https://conference2024.ogs.on.ca/

AI Genealogy Seminars: From Basics to Breakthroughs

https://grip.ngsgenealogy.org/courses/ai-genealogy-seminars-from-basics-to-breakthroughs/

Join co-hosts Mark Thompson and Steve Little to explore the latest developments in AI and Family History.

This week, they discuss Ancestry's innovative new tool for summarizing key US records. They also review Ancestry’s new AI chatbot that greatly simplifies finding the best support documents. Next, they gawk at Google's impressive Gemini 1.5 Pro update. Then, they wrap up the week’s top news stories by reviewing the growing importance of small language models and how they promise faster and more secure AI tools for genealogists.

This week’s Tip of the Week provides a practical guide for genealogists on using AI to Extract key information from large documents.

In RapidFire, they cover OpenAI's groundbreaking real-time voice chat, recent AI regulation developments, Google's monopoly ruling, and the controversy surrounding Google's Olympics ad.

With expert insights and engaging discussions, this podcast is essential listening for genealogists looking to harness the power of AI in their family history research.

Please let us know how we’re doing by leaving us a review—your feedback helps us shape the future of the show!

AI In the News:

00:00:00: Ancestry's new AI features: Ancestry introduces two AI tools to enhance user experience in record summarization and learning how to use Ancestry.

00:11:29: Google's Gemini 1.5 Pro update: Google's latest AI model shows significant improvement, rising to the top of the chatbot rankings.

00:15:20: Small Language Models: The growing importance of small language models in providing faster, more private AI solutions.

Tip of the Week:

00:20:44: AI Building Block Series - Extraction: How to effectively use AI to extract valuable information from genealogical documents and texts.

RapidFire:

00:31:20: OpenAI's voice chat feature: OpenAI's new real-time voice chat capability promises to revolutionize AI interactions.

00:35:31: AI regulation developments: Recent regulatory actions in the EU and California aim to address AI risks and benefits.

00:39:42: Google monopoly ruling: Google's designation as a monopoly in search could lead to significant changes in the tech landscape.

00:42:18: Google's Olympics ad controversy: Google's AI-assisted letter writing ad sparks debate on appropriate AI use in personal tasks.

Ask Ancestry AI: https://support.ancestry.com/s/article/Ancestry-AI-Assistant

Google Gemini 1.5 Pro: https://gemini.google.com/updates

LLMSYS Chatbot leaderboard: https://chat.lmsys.org/?leaderboard

OpenAI's advanced voice chat feature: https://help.openai.com/en/articles/9617425-advanced-voice-mode-faq

Genetic Genealogy Tips and Tricks Facebook group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/237902130006828

Genealogy and Artificial Intelligence Facebook group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/1255245945084761

European Union AI Act: https://artificialintelligenceact.eu/high-level-summary/

California's Safe and Secure Innovation Law for Frontier AI Models: https://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/billTextClient.xhtml?bill_id=202320240SB1047

Ancestry AI Tools, DNA Research Assistant, Record Summarization, Google Gemini Update, Chatbot Rankings, Small Language Models, AI Privacy Concerns, Genealogy Tech Innovations, AI Extraction Techniques, Family History Research, AI Regulation, European Union AI Act, California AI Legislation, Google Monopoly Ruling, OpenAI Voice Chat, AI Ethics In Marketing, Genealogy Data Processing, AI Building Blocks, Tech Industry Developments, AI In Everyday Life

Co-hosts Mark Thompson and Steve Little explore the potential benefits of Meta's open-source approach to AI. Next, they discuss MyHeritage's plans to retire an AI feature. Then, they review the AI image generation features recently added to Adobe Illustrator. 

In this week’s Tip of the Week, they share valuable insights on crafting effective, hallucination-resistant, AI prompts using the “role, task, and format” prompting method.

The RapidFire segment covers Apple's AI delays, Google's impressive math achievements, Reddit's web crawling restrictions, OpenAI's venture into AI-based search, and Meta's groundbreaking image recognition advancements.

This episode offers a perfect blend of practical applications and future possibilities, making it essential listening for genealogists navigating the AI revolution. Whether you're a tech enthusiast or a family history buff, this show provides the knowledge you need to stay ahead in the rapidly changing world of AI.

## In the News

03:18 Meta's Impact on Corporate Genealogy: Discussion of Meta.ai's release and its implications

07:54 MyHeritage's AI Feature Removal: Retirement of AI Record Finder tool

10:11 Adobe's AI Integration: New AI features in Adobe Illustrator

## Tip of the Week

19:32 Building Better Prompts: Role, Task, and Format: Explanation and examples of this prompting technique

## RapidFire Topics

27:55 Apple's AI Delays: Postponement of Apple Intelligence Tools

33:18 Google's AI Math Achievement: AI Performance in Math Olympics

36:55 Reddit's Web Crawling Restrictions: Implications for AI training data

41:22 OpenAI's SearchGPT Development: Potential impact on search engines and competitors

45:30 Meta's SAM 2 Release: Advancements in image and video recognition

Adobe Acrobat: https://acrobat.adobe.com/

Adobe Illustrator: https://www.adobe.com/products/illustrator.html

Adobe Lightroom: https://www.adobe.com/products/photoshop-lightroom.html

Adobe Photoshop: https://www.adobe.com/products/photoshop.html

Airtable: https://www.airtable.com/

Apple Intelligence: https://www.apple.com/apple-intelligence/

Canva: https://www.canva.com/

ChatGPT: https://chat.openai.com/

Claude (Anthropic): https://claude.ai/

FamilySearch: https://www.familysearch.org/

Gemini (Google): https://deepmind.google/technologies/gemini/

Google AI: https://ai.google/

Google Docs: https://docs.google.com/

Meta AI: https://ai.meta.com/

Microsoft Copilot: https://copilot.microsoft.com/

MyHeritage: https://www.myheritage.com/

OpenAI: https://openai.com/

Perplexity: https://www.perplexity.ai/

Reddit: https://www.reddit.com/

SearchGPT: https://openai.com/index/searchgpt-prototype/

Segment Anything Model (SAM) by Meta: https://ai.meta.com/sam2/

Tags: AI in Genealogy, Meta AI, MyHeritage, Adobe Illustrator, AI Prompts, Open Source AI, Apple Intelligence, Google AI, Reddit, OpenAI, SearchGPT, SAM 2, Image Recognition, Family History, Genealogy Tools, AI Ethics, Transcription, Optical Character Recognition (OCR), Handwritten Text Recognition (HTR), Perplexity, Large Language Models, AI-Enabled Search, Artificial Intelligence, Genealogical Research, AI Record Finder, Prompting Techniques, AI Integration, Web Crawling, Data Privacy, Machine Learning, Computer Vision, AI in Adobe Products, AI Math Capabilities, Digital Genealogy, AI-Powered Tools, Genealogy Software, AI Advancements, Family Tree Research, AI for Historians, Future of Genealogy

In this week’s episode, hosts Mark Thompson and Steve Little explore Meta AI 3.1's huge large language model upgrade, as well as FamilySearch's innovative, AI-based summarization feature. They then address growing concerns about AI hype. In this week’s Tip of the Week, they share their approach for mastering the fine art of summarization, a crucial AI skill for genealogical research. The show rounds off with rapid-fire discussions of Google's privacy policy update, Apple's response to accusations made about their training data, and exciting developments in AI-powered education. Whether you're a tech enthusiast or a family history buff, this episode offers invaluable insights into how AI is revolutionizing genealogy and beyond.

Please share this episode with a friend!

In the News

01:01 Meta AI 3.1: A Huge Upgrade, and it’s Free!

13:09 FamilySearch's New AI Summarization Feature

20:16 Addressing AI Hype Concerns

Tip of the Week

24:59 AI Building Blocks: Summarization

AI RapidFire

31:25 Google's Privacy Policy Update

36:57 Apple's Response to Training Data Accusations

40:02 Apple vs. Google: Platform Competition Heats Up

44:59 AI in Education: New Developments and Partnerships

Meta AI: https://meta.ai

FamilySearch: https://www.familysearch.org/en/labs/

OpenAI (ChatGPT): https://openai.com/chatgpt

Anthropic (Claude): https://www.anthropic.com

Google (Gemini): https://gemini.google.com/app

Microsoft: https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/ai

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com

Apple AI: https://www.apple.com/ai

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com

Khan Academy: https://www.khanacademy.org

Google DeepMind: https://www.deepmind.com

Andrej Karpathy's Eureka Labs: https://eurekalabs.ai/

Tags: Artificial Intelligence, Family History, Genealogy, Large Language Models, Meta AI, Facebook AI, Family Search, AI Summarization, OCR, Land Records, AI Model Comparison, Open Source AI, AI Adoption, AI Investment, AI Winter, AI Ethics, Data Privacy, Training Data, Google Privacy Policy, YouTube Closed Captions, Apple AI, AI Research, Platform Competition, AI Ecosystems, AI in Education, Khan Academy, Microsoft AI, Andrej Karpathy, AI Tutoring, AI Learning

In this episode, hosts Mark Thompson and Steve Little dive into Perplexity's big upgrade, enhancing research capabilities for family historians. They tackle pressing ethical concerns in AI, exploring copyright issues and training data controversies that impact genealogists. The show introduces a new series on building better prompts, offering practical tips to maximize AI tools. In the rapid-fire segment, they cover open-source developments, geopolitical influences on AI, and exciting updates from industry leaders like Anthropic, OpenAI, Google, and Apple. Whether you're a tech-savvy genealogist or new to AI, this episode provides valuable insights to navigate the evolving landscape of family history research in the digital age. Tune in for expert analysis and practical advice on leveraging AI in your genealogical pursuits.

Welcome and introduction

2:12 AI In the News

2:30 Story 1: Perplexity upgrade

7:20 Story 2: Ethical issues in AI

13:55 Tip of the Week: Build Better Prompts

21:40 AI Rapid Fire

21:40 Open source developments in AI

24:08 Geopolitical issues affecting AI tools

26:38 Anthropic's Claude and new features

29:08 Changes in OpenAI board membership

32:35 Google Pixel 9 AI features

37:20 Delay in Apple's Siri upgrades

38:53 Tout Fini!

• Perplexity: https://www.perplexity.ai/

• OpenAI: https://openai.com/

• Microsoft: https://www.microsoft.com/

• Google: https://www.google.com/

• Anthropic: https://www.anthropic.com/

• Apple: https://www.apple.com/

• ChatGPT: https://chat.openai.com/

• Claude AI: https://www.anthropic.com/

• Google Gemini: https://deepmind.google/technologies/gemini/

• NVIDIA: https://www.nvidia.com/

• Meta (Facebook): https://about.meta.com/

• Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/

In this episode of The Family History AI Show, hosts Mark Thompson and Steve Little discuss the latest advancements in AI tools for genealogists.

Discover how Anthropic’s new Claude Projects feature stacks up against OpenAI’s custom GPTs, and learn about essential reusable prompts for genealogical research.

We also highlight key insights from the GRIP Annual Institute’s AI panel, addressing top questions from genealogy students.

Don’t miss our AI Tip of the Week, where we reveal strategies for effective chatbot interactions to enhance research efficiency: basic prompt advice.

Stay informed with rapid-fire updates on the newest developments from OpenAI, Google, and Eleven Labs. Tune in for expert advice and the latest AI news to boost your family history research.

[00:00:00] Introduction: Overview of the episode's topics

[00:00:11] Family History AI in the News

[00:00:45] Claude Projects by Anthropic

[00:06:40] Comparison of Claude Projects and OpenAI Custom GPTs

[00:14:20] GRIP Institute on AI and Genealogy

[00:24:45] Family History AI Tip of the Week

[00:24:58] Chatting with Your Chatbot: Importance of Prompting Basics

[00:28:20] AI RapidFire

[00:28:35] OpenAI Updates: Mac app release; ChatGPT voice assistant delay

[00:30:45] Google Updates: Gemini integration with Gmail and Google Docs

[00:32:30] OpenAI Content Licensing Deals

[00:35:40] Eleven Labs Text-to-Speech: Licensed voices for realistic text-to-speech

[00:40:40] Closing Remarks: Recap of the episode; Upcoming events

Anthropic Claude Projects: https://www.anthropic.com/news/projects

OpenAI Custom GPTs: https://chatgpt.com/gpts

Genealogical Research Institute of Pittsburgh (GRIP): https://www.gripitt.org

OpenAI ChatGPT: https://chat.openai.com

Anthropic Claude: https://www.anthropic.com/claude

Google Gemini: https://ai.google.com/gemini

Time Magazine: https://time.com

The Atlantic: https://www.theatlantic.com

Eleven Labs: https://elevenlabs.io

Tags: AI Tools, Genealogy, Claude Projects, OpenAI, ChatGPT, Anthropic, Custom GPTs, Reusable Prompts, GRIP Annual Institute, Family History, Genealogical Research, Artificial Intelligence, LLMs, Chatbot Tips, AI in Genealogy, Time Magazine, Eleven Labs, Text to Speech, Google Gemini, AI News, Podcast

Hosts Mark Thompson and Steve Little discuss Steve's recent AI course for genealogists at GRIP and the rapid pace of learning and practical applications for genealogy. 

They examine the industry-wide effects of Apple's focus on AI privacy and security, including at OpenAI. The launch of Anthropic's Claude 3.5 Sonnet is a major advancement, offering huge improvements for genealogical research. 

This week’s Tip of The Week emphasizes the value of using AI for small, repetitive tasks. 

They also cover new industry-wide initiatives for identifying AI-generated images, updates to Adobe Acrobat's AI features, and the growing global interest in AI for genealogy.

Family History AI in the News

00:43 - Steve's Update on "AI from Basics to Breakthroughs" at GRIP (Genealogical Research Institute of Pittsburgh).

06:42- Apple Intelligence’s industry Impact on privacy and security in AI.

08:59 - Claude 3.5 Sonnet is a significant development in AI.

Tip of the Week:

15:26 - Six Minutes Over Silver Bullets.

AI Rapid Fire

17:53 – A new consortium, led by Adobe, is helping identify AI-generated images.

19:43 - Adobe Acrobat AI Assistant Update allows multiple documents to be analyzed or summarized simultaneously.

22:09 – The Global Impact of AI on the Family History Community

24:06 – Tout Fini

National Genealogical Society https://www.ngsgenealogy.org/

GRIP (Genealogical Research Institute of Pittsburgh) https://www.gripitt.org/

Apple Intelligence https://machinelearning.apple.com/

OpenAI https://openai.com/

Claude 3.5 Sonnet (by Anthropic) https://www.anthropic.com/

Google Gemini https://ai.google/

Adobe Acrobat AI Assistant https://www.adobe.com/acrobat/features/ai-assistant.html

Ontario Genealogical Society https://ogs.on.ca/

Society of Australian Genealogists https://www.sag.org.au/

Genealogy and Artificial Intelligence Facebook Group https://www.facebook.com/groups/genealogyandai

FamilySearch https://www.familysearch.org/

Ancestry https://www.ancestry.com/

MyHeritage https://www.myheritage.com/

Genealogy, Family History, Artificial Intelligence, AI in Genealogy, Genealogy Research, AI Education, Genealogical Research Institute of Pittsburgh, GRIP, National Genealogical Society, DNA Analysis, Document Transcription, Historical Photographs, AI Models, Privacy and Security, Safe Super Intelligence Inc, Claude 3.5 Sonnet, Genealogy Technology, Pedigree Charts, AI Tools, Adobe AI Consortium, Adobe Acrobat AI Assistant, International Genealogy, Ontario Genealogical Society, Society of Australian Genealogists, AI Applications in Genealogy