The Family History AI Show

Delve into the revolutionary Comet browser that integrates AI directly into web pages, transforming genealogical research. Discover Grok 4's impressive benchmarks and its challenges, including behavioral quirks. Learn about 'context engineering'—a technique to enhance AI interactions by providing rich information. The hosts also discuss Google's Veo 3 tool that magically animates photos into videos. Lastly, explore the dramatic Windsurf acquisition and the new ChatGPT Agent capable of controlling computers autonomously.

David Ouimette, Director of Content Strategy at FamilySearch, shares insights on how AI is transforming genealogical research. He discusses FamilySearch's Full-Text Search, now accessing over 1.25 billion records, and the challenges of building effective AI transcription models. David reveals how specialized training improves accuracy for handwritten documents and emphasizes the ongoing need for human oversight in AI processes. The conversation also touches on the broader implications of AI in tools like Google Photos and Ancestry's document transcription features.

The co-hosts dive into the controversial world of AI image restoration, questioning its impact on authentic family photos. They ponder the future of Perplexity and its unique research capabilities. Legal battles are analyzed, particularly Disney's case against MidJourney, highlighting copyright implications for AI training. A handy tip showcases how project workspaces can streamline genealogical research. Lastly, the discussion touches on Meta's hiring spree and the importance of critically assessing AI news as tools proliferate in everyday software.

Jessica Taylor, President of Legacy Tree Genealogists and chair of the Coalition for Responsible AI in Genealogy, joins the discussion. She shares insights on her company’s cautious yet innovative use of AI tools in genealogy. The co-hosts delve into groundbreaking AI updates, including Google’s Gemini 2.5 Pro and Anthropic’s Claude 4, and their implications for document analysis and writing. They also highlight the five core principles for responsible AI use and anticipate the exciting features of ChatGPT 5, reflecting on AI’s transformative role in family history.

In this discussion, genealogy expert Jarrett Ross, known for his work on The GeneaVlogger channel, shares insights about integrating AI into genealogy. He talks about his innovative facial recognition project that identifies individuals in historical photos, particularly from Poland. The hosts explore ChatGPT 4o's advanced photorealism and text accuracy in image generation, and the O3 model's groundbreaking abilities for image analysis. They emphasize the responsible use of AI, balancing groundbreaking technology with the need for ethical considerations in genealogical research.

DeepSeek has shaken up the AI landscape with its powerful open-source model, challenging existing market leaders. The first anniversary of FamilySearch's Full-Text Search is celebrated, revealing its rapid expansion to over a billion records. Google and Microsoft are integrating AI into their productivity tools, making advanced features more affordable for family historians. A tip on choosing between instructional and reasoning AI models aids genealogists. The ambitious $500 billion Stargate Project and exciting updates from Gemini and Grok are also discussed.

Co-hosts discuss exciting AI predictions for 2025, including the rise of AI agents that promise better privacy and task efficiency. They delve into the anticipated integration of chatbots in social media, aimed at enhancing user interactions. Writing with AI is also on the agenda, as they predict these tools will soon be widely adopted. The conversation touches on the competitive landscape of AI, discussing major players and emerging innovations. Finally, they navigate potential challenges and highlight what may not come to fruition in the near future.

Co-hosts Mark Thompson and Steve Little explore Google's powerful end-of-year releases that challenge other AI platforms. They examine Google's Deep Research tool and its ability to quickly create comprehensive research reports by combining information from multiple sources.Next, they discuss Facebook's controversial introduction of AI assistants to Facebook groups and what this might mean for genealogy communities.The hosts review Google's NotebookLM's significant updates, including enhanced audio capabilities and collaborative features that could transform how genealogists work together.This week's Tip of the Week demonstrates how ChatGPT Projects can organize and enhance genealogical research, with Steve using his approach to a 2025 genealogy do-over as an example.In RapidFire, they cover Google's new fact benchmark, Gemini 2.0's release, AI-enhanced search results, and OpenAI's O3 announcement.Timestamps:In the News:06:44 Google Deep Research: The New Challenger to Perplexity18:03 Facebook Groups Get AI Assistants24:57 NotebookLM: Major Updates for Collaborative ProjectsTip of the Week:32:15 ChatGPT Projects: Organizing Your Genealogy Do-OverRapidFire:41:52 Google's New Fact Benchmark44:00 Gemini 2.0 Release48:34 Google AI-Enhanced Search Results54:48 OpenAI's O3 Model AnnouncementResource Links:AI Seminar at the Victoria Genealogical Societyhttps://victoriags.org/content.aspx?page_id=4091&club_id=554933&item_id=2488526Legacy Family Tree Webinars: "Genealogy Meets AI: Panel Discussion"https://familytreewebinars.com/webinar/genealogy-meets-ai-panel-discussion/Introducing Gemini 2.0: our new AI model for the agentic erahttps://blog.google/technology/google-deepmind/google-gemini-ai-update-december-2024/Certified Arborist Facebook Grouphttps://www.facebook.com/groups/12652295162Exploring Facebook's New AI Tool for Groupshttps://aigenealogyinsights.com/2024/10/22/exploring-facebooks-new-ai-tool-for-groups/NotebookLM gets a new look, audio interactivity and a premium versionhttps://blog.google/technology/google-labs/notebooklm-new-features-december-2024/Using Projects in ChatGPThttps://help.openai.com/en/articles/10169521-using-projects-in-chatgptA new benchmark for evaluating the accuracy of large language modelshttps://deepmind.google/discover/blog/facts-grounding-a-new-benchmark-for-evaluating-the-factuality-of-large-language-models/AI Overviews in Search are coming to more places around the worldhttps://blog.google/products/search/ai-overviews-search-october-2024/OpenAI announces new o3 modelshttps://techcrunch.com/2024/12/20/openai-announces-new-o3-model/TagsAI, Artificial Intelligence, Genealogy, Family History, Technology, OpenAI, Google, Perplexity, ChatGPT, Meta, Content Licensing, AI Conferences, AI Outage, Ethical AI, Disclosure, Genealogy Research, OpenAI Licensing, Google AI Issues, Perplexity Pages, ChatGPT Updates, Meta AI Developments, Grok.AI, AI in Genealogy, AI Tools, Technology in Genealogy, AI Transparency, AI and Privacy

OpenAI's latest innovations take center stage, with highlights on their '12 Days of OpenAI' campaign and new reasoning models. The Canvas tool becomes widely accessible, enhancing project organization and AI collaboration. ChatGPT's Advanced Voice Mode introduces a camera view, transforming mobile genealogy research. Tips reveal how to utilize free AI tools effectively, while discussions cover Apple's careful AI updates and Harvard's donation of a million books for training. The festive Santa Chat feature adds a whimsical touch to user interactions.

Discover the top AI tools to invest in for 2025 and which ones to avoid, with surprising insights. Dive into OpenAI's '12 Days of OpenAI' and learn about the new O1 reasoning model for family history research. Embrace AI hallucinations as creative tools rather than setbacks, unlocking innovative problem-solving. Explore Microsoft's Copilot Vision beta and Apple’s cautious approach to AI, alongside Google's exciting memory feature in Gemini. Plus, hear about the substantial funding boost for Elon Musk's XAI and its potential impact.