The Family History AI Show (Mark Thompson and Steve Little)

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/

“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

In this episode of the Family History AI Show, co-hosts Mark Thompson and Steve Little discuss the exciting developments in AI announced at Apple's Worldwide Developer Conference (WWDC) last week. In particular, Apple's promise of a more secure, private approach to AI. Apple's approach to AI is compared with Microsoft's Recall feature and Google's Memory, highlighting the importance of security and privacy to genealogists.

Mark and Steve also discuss recent updates to ChatGPT's Data Analyst, showcasing its improved spreadsheet analysis capabilities, which could greatly simplify research for some genealogists.

This episode's AI Tip of the Week encourages labeling of AI-generated content to give the gift of trust to future researchers.

1:30 Apple announced a new kind of AI last week, Apple Intelligence

12:15 Microsoft Recall feature highlights privacy and security concerns

22:37 ChatGPT's Data Analyst update

35:39 Family History AI Tip of the Week: Give the gift of trust to future generations by labelling AI content

42:10 AI Rapid Fire: International adoption of AI tools on the rise

51:22 Upcoming AI events with Mark and Steve

OpenAI: 

https://www.openai.com

ChatGPT: 

https://chatgpt.com/ 

Improvements to data analysis in ChatGPT

https://openai.com/index/improvements-to-data-analysis-in-chatgpt/

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

Anthropic:

https://www.anthropic.com

Meta AI:

https://ai.facebook.com

Genealogical Research Institute of Pittsburgh (GRIP):

https://www.gripitt.org

National Genealogical Society AI Toolbox Series

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

Apple Worldwide Developer Conference:

https://developer.apple.com/wwdc

ArtificialIntelligence, AI, Genealogy, FamilyHistory, Apple, AppleIntelligence, WWDC, Microsoft, MicrosoftRecall, Google, GoogleMemory, Chromebooks, ChatGPT, DataAnalyst, StructuredData, Spreadsheets, AIEthics, FutureProofing, InternationalAI, AIAdoption, GenealogyAI, FamilyHistoryAI, AIGenealogy, AIFamilyHistory, AIResearch, GenealogyResearch, LetterResearch, DocumentResearch

In this episode of the Family History AI Show, hosts Mark Thompson and Steve Little discuss recent developments in AI for genealogy.

They recap the groundbreaking AI Day at the Ontario Genealogical Society conference, highlighting the engaging presentations made throughout the conference. An exclusive interview with Daniel Horowitz reveals MyHeritage's user-friendly approach to AI. The hosts discuss tech giants' recent challenges and contrast them with Apple's strategic AI implementation.

The Tip of The Week provides practical advice on managing AI hallucinations. Leveraging custom GPTs for genealogical research takes center stage.

The episode also touches on the power of AI in summarization, as demonstrated in a recent Research Like a Pro podcast. Wrapping up, Steve previews his upcoming course on AI in genealogy at GRIP, promising an in-depth exploration of this rapidly evolving field.

00:30 Headlines

01:15 Big AI Conference in Toronto

Life at the Jagged Edge. 

10:00 Perplexity gets called out by Forbes Magazine

11:42 Microsoft delays Recall on Copilot + PCs

13:50 More thoughts on the importance of Apple Intelligence

20:35 Interview with Daniel Horowitz, MyHeritage’s Expert Genealogist

30:20 Tip of the Week: Managing Hallucinations

AI Rapidfire

40:18 Microsoft Removing Support for CustomGPTs from Copilot

45:00 Nicole Dyer, from Research Like a Pro, covers summarization and introduces the importance of disclosure

49:20 Perplexity goes after Google by offering common Google searches

50:50 Upcoming courses and announcements

53:54 Tout fini

Ontario Genealogical Society conference

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

MyHeritage AI tools

https://www.myheritage.com/ai-time-machine

Perplexity AI

https://www.perplexity.ai/

Microsoft Delays Recall amid Security Concerns

https://www.malwarebytes.com/blog/news/2024/06/microsoft-recall-delayed-after-privacy-and-security-concerns

Apple's AI strategy

https://www.apple.com/ca/newsroom/2024/06/introducing-apple-intelligence-for-iphone-ipad-and-mac/

Chat GPT

https://openai.com/chatgpt

Claude AI

https://www.anthropic.com/claude

Google's Gemini

https://blog.google/products/gemini/

Research Like a Pro podcast

https://familylocket.com/the-research-like-a-pro-genealogy-podcast/

Custom GPTs and reusable prompts

https://aigenealogyinsights.com/2024/01/10/exploring-custom-gpts-my-journey-into-ai-tools-for-genealogy/

DNA Painter

https://dnapainter.com/

Ethan Mollick on X

https://x.com/emollick

OpenAI's GPT-4

https://openai.com/research/gpt-4

Blaine Bettinger's Genealogy and Artificial Intelligence Facebook group

https://www.facebook.com/groups/1255245945084761

AI Genealogy Insights website

https://www.aigenealogyinsights.com/

Research Like a Pro podcast episode 310

https://familylocket.com/research-like-a-pro-podcast/

Tags: AI, Artificial Intelligence, Genealogy, Family History, Technology, OpenAI, Google, Perplexity, ChatGPT, AI Conferences, AITipOfTheWeek, TipOfTheWeek, Ethical AI, Disclosure, Genealogy Research, Perplexity, ChatGPT, AI in Genealogy, AI Tools, Technology in Genealogy, AI Transparency, AI and Privacy

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

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

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 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

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

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

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 

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 of the Family History AI Show, Mark Thompson and Steve Little explore the latest AI news, views and reviews for family historians. 

They start with Google Gemini's new file upload capabilities and examine AI's impact on genealogy education, offering practical advice for researchers. Then, they discuss the increasing availability of saved prompts across AI platforms.

Don’t miss this week’s Tip of The Week: Using examples to improve the reliability of the responses that you get from your AI. 

RapidFire announcements include the upcoming release of OpenAI's "strawberry" model and potential upgrades to digital assistants such as Alexa.

This episode blends news with practical tips, providing listeners with valuable insights to harness AI's potential in uncovering family stories and improving research techniques. 

AI In the News

01:37 Google Releases Gemini Gems: New features for document analysis and mobile access

07:35 Genealogists go Back to School: The Impact of AI of Education

13:30 Saved Prompts: Discussion on the widespread adoption of saved prompts across AI Tools

Tip of the Week

19:45 Building Better Prompts - Examples: Improve responses by providing examples in prompts

RapidFire

27:00 OpenAI's "Strawberry" Announcement: Enhanced Reasoning Capabilities

32:00 Top 50 List of AI Tools Announced

36:02 Amazon's Alexa Upgrade: Claude AI Coming to an Alexa Near You

40:33 Wild Vision Arena Leaderboard: New benchmark for AI image analysis capabilities

45:42 Perplexity Plans To Introduce Ads: AI search tool's future business model

Google Gemini

https://gemini.google.com

OpenAI ChatGPT

https://chat.openai.com

Anthropic Claude

www.claude.ai

Perplexity AI

https://www.perplexity.ai

Google Gemini "Gems"

https://blog.google/products/gemini/google-gemini-update-august-2024/

Anthropic "Projects"

https://www.anthropic.com/news/projects

OpenAI

https://openai.com

Character AI

https://character.ai/

Suno AI

https://www.suno.ai

Amazon Alexa

https://www.amazon.com/alexa-help-resources/b?ie=UTF8&node=21576560011

Wild Vision Arena Leaderboard

https://huggingface.co/spaces/WildVision/vision-arena

OpenAI "Strawberry" model

https://www.wired.com/story/openai-o1-strawberry-problem-reasoning/

Andresen Horowitz Top 100 List

https://a16z.com/100-gen-ai-apps/

ChatGPT Advanced Voice

https://help.openai.com/en/articles/9617425-advanced-voice-mode-faq

Apple iPhone

https://www.apple.com/iphone

Apple Intelligence

https://www.apple.com/ca/apple-intelligence/

Google Pixel phones

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

Microsoft Copilot

https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/microsoft-365/copilot

OpenAI Search GPT

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

artificial intelligence, AI, technology, machine learning, genealogy, family history, AI tools, chatbots, large language models, AI research, AI news, AI updates, OpenAI, Google, Anthropic, Amazon, Apple, Microsoft, ChatGPT, Claude, Gemini, Alexa, Perplexity, Character AI, AI vision, AI voice assistants, AI ethics, AI regulations, AI benchmarks, AI subscriptions, AI advertising, AI development, AI education, prompt engineering, AI leaderboards, AI investments, AI companies, AI features, AI devices, international AI access

In this special edition of the Family History AI Show, co-hosts Mark Thompson and Steve Little do a deep dive into OpenAI's latest release, code-named "Project Strawberry."

They explain the new ChatGPT-o1 models, discuss their reasoning capabilities and most importantly, their potential impacts on genealogical research. They also offer practical advice on when and how to use these new tools effectively.

Don't miss this week's Tip of the Week: How to create the new o1 models' reasoning capabilities for free using chain-of-thought prompting.

In RapidFire, they cover upcoming OpenAI developments, including potential October releases and the future "Orion" model.

This episode blends in-depth analysis with practical tips, providing listeners with valuable insights on leveraging AI tools for family history research.

In the News Special: ChatGPT o1-Preview

01:57 Project Strawberry: Introduction to OpenAI's new ChatGPT-01 models

09:20 What are the new ChatGPT o1 models best for?

15:15 When not to use the new ChatGPT-o1 models for genealogy tasks

Tip of the Week

19:25 Simulating ChatGPT-01 capabilities using free tools: Chain-of-thought prompting

RapidFire

27:25 Predictions for OpenAI's October Developer Event

32:00 The future "Orion" model: What to expect from GPT-5

35:05 OpenAI's latest funding round and its implications for the AI industry

38:20 Five Star Review

Victoria Genealogical Society

https://victoriags.org

East Coast Genetic Genealogy Conference

https://ecggc.org/

North Carolina Genealogical Society

https://www.ncgenealogy.org

OpenAI

https://openai.com

ChatGPT

https://chat.openai.com

ChatGPT-01 Preview

https://openai.com/index/introducing-openai-o1-preview/

Perplexity AI

https://www.perplexity.ai

Claude (Anthropic)

https://claude.ai/

Google Gemini

https://gemini.google.com

OpenAI Developer Day

https://openai.com/devday/

OpenAI Advanced Voice

https://help.openai.com/en/articles/8400625-voice-mode-faq

SearchGPT

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

OpenAI Nears Largest VC Fundraising Round of All Time at $6.5B

https://www.adweek.com/media/openai-largest-vc-fundraising-round/

artificial intelligence, AI, technology, genealogy, family history, OpenAI, ChatGPT, GPT-4, AI models, AI reasoning, AI development, AI funding, AI tools, chatbots, large language models, AI research, AI news, AI updates, Project Strawberry, ChatGPT-o1, Orion, prompt engineering, chain-of-thought prompting, AI capabilities, AI limitations, AI for genealogy, genetic genealogy, AI investment, AI industry trends, AI conferences, AI features, AI analysis

Co-hosts Mark Thompson and Steve Little recap their experiences at the East Coast Genetic Genealogy Conference last week, highlighting Dana Leeds' innovative use of AI for efficiently created charts using the Leeds Method.

They then explore OpenAI's new Canvas feature, comparing it to Claude's Artifacts, and discuss its potential for genealogical research.

Next, Mark and Steve review Google's Notebook LM, examining its ability to turn documents into engaging podcasts and its usefulness for genealogical research.

Don’t miss this week's Tip of the Week, which focuses on the importance of disclosing AI-generated content in genealogical work.

In RapidFire, they cover Google Photos' upcoming AI-powered search feature, Nobel Prizes awarded to AI researchers, Microsoft's reintroduction of screen capture technology as Copilot Vision, and more.

Whether you're a tech enthusiast or a family historian, this episode offers valuable insights into the latest AI advancements and their impact on genealogy.

In the News:

02:51 Recap of East Coast Genetic Genealogy Conference

07:35 Dana Leeds' innovative use of AI for the Leeds Method

12:52 OpenAI's new Canvas feature

20:54 Google's Notebook LM and its applications in genealogy

Tip of the Week:

29:16 Disclosing AI-generated content in genealogical work

RapidFire:

42:34 Google Photos' upcoming AI-powered search

47:26 Nobel Prizes awarded to AI researchers

53:16 Microsoft's Copilot Vision: Reintroduction of screen capture technology

57:32 Closing thoughts and announcements

East Coast Genetic Genealogy Conference

https://ecggc.org/

The Leeds Method with Claude Artifacts

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tp5DzuLeaN4

ChatGPT

https://openai.com/chatgpt

Claude AI

https://www.anthropic.com/claude

OpenAI

https://openai.com/

Google Notebook LM

https://notebooklm.google/

FamilySearch

https://www.familysearch.org

MyHeritage

https://www.myheritage.com/

Google Photos

https://photos.google.com/

Nobel Prize

https://www.nobelprize.org/prizes/physics/2024/summary/

https://www.nobelprize.org/prizes/chemistry/2024/summary/

Microsoft Copilot Vision

https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/microsoft-copilot/blog/2024/10/01/introducing-copilot-labs-and-copilot-vision/

Adobe

https://www.adobe.com/

Google DeepMind

https://deepmind.google/

Microsoft Edge

https://www.microsoft.com/edge

Artificial Intelligence, Genealogy, Family History, Technology, OpenAI, Google, Microsoft, ChatGPT, Claude, Canvas, Artifacts, Notebook LM, AI Ethics, AI Disclosure, East Coast Genetic Genealogy Conference, Leeds Method, AI in Research, Google Photos, Nobel Prize, AI Researchers, Copilot Vision, Screen Capture, AI Advancements, Genealogical Research, AI Tools, AI News, Responsible AI Use, AI Privacy, AI Safety, AI Development

Co-hosts Mark Thompson and Steve Little examine OpenAI's new Canvas feature, demonstrating how this split-screen interface revolutionizes document creation and editing for genealogists. Locality guides and research reports are used as practical examples.

They explore how AI platforms like Canvas and Perplexity Spaces are challenging traditional software, suggesting a future where content creation happens primarily within AI environments rather than conventional office applications.

This week's Tip of the Week addresses critical privacy considerations when using AI tools, introducing the practical "Water Cooler Rule" for protecting sensitive genealogical data.

In RapidFire, they discuss Apple's research on AI reasoning, NotebookLM's enhanced audio overview capabilities for turning historical documents into conversations, and preview Apple's upcoming AI features in iOS 18.1.

Whether you're embracing AI tools or just starting to explore them, this episode offers valuable insights into the evolving landscape of AI’s and genealogical research.

In the News:

04:15 OpenAI Canvas: The New Frontier of AI Writing

12:40 The Great Shift: AI Platforms vs Traditional Software

26:20 Perplexity Spaces: Collaborative AI Research Breakthrough

Tip of the Week:

31:30 Privacy & Protection: Smart Guidelines for AI Use in Family History

RapidFire:

39:15 Apple's Research on AI Reasoning: What It Means for Users

43:40 NotebookLM's Game-Changing Audio Features

49:25 Apple Intelligence: iOS 18.1 Preview

OpenAI

ChatGPT: https://chatgpt.com/

Canvas feature: https://openai.com/index/introducing-canvas/

Anthropic

Claude 3.5 Sonnet: https://www.anthropic.com/claude/sonnet

Artifacts feature: https://support.anthropic.com/en/articles/9487310-what-are-artifacts-and-how-do-i-use-them

Projects feature: https://www.anthropic.com/news/projects

Google

NotebookLM: https://notebooklm.google.com/

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

Google Slides: https://slides.google.com/  

Audio Overview feature: https://blog.google/technology/ai/notebooklm-update-october-2024/

Perplexity

Spaces (collaborative feature): https://www.perplexity.ai/hub/faq/what-are-spaces

Pages feature: https://www.perplexity.ai/hub/blog/perplexity-pages

Microsoft

Microsoft Office: https://www.office.com/

Microsoft Word: https://www.microsoft.com/word

Microsoft Excel: https://www.microsoft.com/excel

Outlook with Copilot: https://www.microsoft.com/outlook

Apple

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

Siri: https://www.apple.com/siri/

VOICE ASSISTANTS:

Siri (Apple): https://www.apple.com/siri/

Alexa (Amazon): https://developer.amazon.com/alexa

Google Assistant: https://assistant.google.com/

GENEALOGY RESOURCES:

North Carolina Genealogical Society: https://www.ncgenealogy.org/

National Genealogical Society (NGS): https://www.ngsgenealogy.org/

East Coast Genetic Genealogy Seminar: https://ecggc.org/

Internet Archive (archive.org): https://archive.org/

RESEARCH TOOLS:

Leeds Method (DNA analysis): https://www.danaleeds.com/the-leeds-method/

Custom GPTs: https://openai.com/index/introducing-gpts/

PRESENTERS/EXPERTS MENTIONED:

David McCorkle: http://davidmccorkle.com/

Dana Leeds: https://www.danaleeds.com/

Professor Ethan Mullock (author of "Cointelligence"): https://www.oneusefulthing.org/p/i-cyborg-using-co-intelligence

Family History, Genealogy, Artificial Intelligence, AI, Generative AI, OpenAI Canvas, Canvas, AI Writing, Privacy Tips, Apple AI, Perplexity Spaces, NotebookLM, ChatGPT, Claude, Anthropic, Microsoft Office, Google Notebook, Perplexity, iOS 18, Genealogy Tools, Family Research, DNA Genealogy, Genealogy Research, Family Historian, AI Tools, Content Creation, Digital Writing, Collaboration, Workspaces, Smart Assistants, Document Editing, Research Tools, Writing Tools, Data Privacy, Data Protection, AI Privacy, AI Ethics, Target Audience: Genealogists, Family Historians, Tech Writers, Researchers, Digital Creators.

Co-hosts Mark Thompson and Steve Little discuss how Anthropic's Claude 3.5 Sonnet upgrade has made Claude an even better AI writer. This make's it even easier to write a great research report. 

They move on to explore OpenAI's new desktop apps and Advanced Voice Mode, discussing how voice interaction could transform genealogical research, particularly for those who prefer speaking to typing. Combining search and AI in the same tool will be a huge timesaver for genealogy research.

This week's Tip of the Week reveals the best ways to leverage free AI tools for family history research. There’s no need to pay for AI tools if you only need these features a few times a day.

In RapidFire, they examine the future of AI agents, Apple's cautious AI rollout in iOS 18.1, and Meta's strategic content partnership with Reuters.

In the News:

02:20  Claude 3.5 Sonnet (new): AI Writing Reaches New Heights

06:50 ChatGPT Desktop Apps: Now Available for Both Macs and PCs

14:00 AI Search Gets Real: AI-Enhanced Search From ChatGPT

Tip of the Week:

19:20 Free AI Tools: How To Get Premium AI Results For Free

RapidFire:

26:50 AI Agents: The Future of Computer Interaction

31:20 Apple Intelligence: IOS 18.1 Starts the Rollout of AI for Apple

40:26 Meta's Reuters Deal: The First (of Many?) Content Partnerships for Facebook

ANTHROPIC

Claude 3.5 Sonnet

https://www.anthropic.com/claude/sonnet

Projects feature

https://www.anthropic.com/news/projects

OPENAI

ChatGPT

https://chatgpt.com/

Desktop Apps

https://openai.com/chatgpt/desktop/

Advanced Voice Mode

https://help.openai.com/en/articles/8400625-voice-mode-faq

GPT Search

https://openai.com/index/introducing-chatgpt-search/

APPLE

iOS 18.1

https://www.apple.com/ca/newsroom/2024/10/apple-intelligence-is-available-today-on-iphone-ipad-and-mac/

Apple Intelligence

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

Siri

https://www.apple.com/siri/

Apple Photo Search

https://9to5mac.com/2024/09/25/photos-search-in-ios-181-actually-works-thanks-to-apple-intelligence/

META

Meta AI

https://ai.meta.com/meta-ai/

Reuters Partnership

https://www.reuters.com/technology/artificial-intelligence/meta-platforms-use-reuters-news-content-ai-chatbot-2024-10-25/

MISC

Perplexity

https://www.perplexity.ai

Microsoft Copilot

https://www.microsoft.com/microsoft-365/copilot

Artificial Intelligence, Technology, Cloud Computing, Machine Learning, Family History, Genealogy, AI, Mobile Technology, Natural Language Processing, Large Language Models, Generative AI, AI Search, Voice Assistants, AI Agents, Research Tools, Content Creation, Digital Writing, Document Analysis, Privacy, Data Protection, AI Ethics, Claude 3.5 Sonnet, ChatGPT, Apple Intelligence, Meta AI, Perplexity, Microsoft Copilot, iOS 18.1, Siri, AI Writing, Desktop Applications, Mobile Apps, Photo Organization, Email Tools, Content Partnerships, Source Citation, Voice Interaction, User Experience, Cloud Services, Free Tools, Premium Features, Tool Comparison, Workflow Optimization, Family Research, Genealogy Tools, Research Reports, Narrative Writing, Genealogists, Family Historians, Tech Writers, Researchers, Digital Creators

Co-hosts Mark Thompson and Steve Little explore the AI developments that had the biggest impact on genealogy in 2024.

This week’s episode spotlights MyHeritage's newest viral tool, LiveMemory, which brings old photos to life through animation. Next, Mark and Steve count down the year's top AI breakthroughs for genealogists. The groundbreaking FamilySearch full-text search takes the top spot by providing unprecedented access to huge collections of handwritten records. Mark and Steve also discuss the genealogy community's migration to Bluesky.

Don’t miss this week’s tip of the week, which provides practical tips for using AI to help you research your ancestors’ home countries. 

This week’s rapid fire stories include major industry developments at Google, OpenAI, and Amazon.

This episode showcases how artificial intelligence is revolutionizing family history research for genealogists at all levels.

IN THE NEWS

03:02 MyHeritage's Goes Viral (again!) with LiveMemory

10:56 Top Five AI Breakthroughs for Genealogists in 2024

Chatbots Learn How to Reason (OpenAI’s o1-preview)

Content Creation Within Chatbots (Artifacts, Canvas)

Collaborative Research Spaces (NotebookLM, Claude Projects, Perplexity Spaces)

AI-Enhanced Search (SearchGPT, Perplexity, Google)

FamilySearch Unlocks Handwritten Records

27:27 The Great Bluesky Migration

TIP OF THE WEEK

32:17 Use AI To Research the Home Country

RAPIDFIRE

40:41 Google Loses Antitrust Cases

44:33 OpenAI Announces Web Browser Initiative

48:25 Amazon's $4B Anthropic Investment

IN THE NEWS

MyHeritage's Goes Viral (again!) with LiveMemory

LiveMemory

https://www.myheritage.com/livememory/

Runway ML

https://runwayml.com/

TOP 5 AI BREAKTHROUGHS

Introducing OpenAI o1-preview

https://openai.com/index/introducing-openai-o1-preview/

Claude Artifacts

https://support.anthropic.com/en/articles/9487310-what-are-artifacts-and-how-do-i-use-them

ChatGPT Canvas

https://openai.com/index/introducing-canvas/

Google NotebookLM

https://notebooklm.google.com/

Claude Projects

https://www.anthropic.com/news/projects

Perplexity Spaces

https://www.perplexity.ai/hub/faq/what-are-spaces

Introducing ChatGPT Search

https://openai.com/index/introducing-chatgpt-search/

Perplexity

https://www.perplexity.ai/

Google

https://www.google.com/

FamilySearch Full-Text Search

https://www.familysearch.org/en/help/helpcenter/article/find-the-new-full-text-search-for-historical-records

BLUESKY MIGRATION

Bluesky Social

https://bsky.app/

Mark Thompson’s Bluesky Handle

https://bsky.app/profile/makingfamilyhistory.com

Steve Little’s Bluesky Handle

https://bsky.app/profile/digitalarchivst.bsky.social

RAPIDFIRE

Google Loses Antitrust Cases

https://www.npr.org/2024/08/05/nx-s1-5064624/google-justice-department-antitrust-search

https://www.reuters.com/legal/google-asks-us-appeals-court-reject-app-store-monopoly-verdict-2024-11-27/

https://www.thenewdaily.com.au/life/tech/2024/11/26/chrome-google-forced-sale

OpenAI Announces Web Browser Initiative

https://www.pcmag.com/news/openai-working-on-a-web-browser-to-compete-with-google-chrome

https://www.reuters.com/technology/artificial-intelligence/openai-considers-taking-google-with-browser-information-reports-2024-11-21/

Amazon's $4B Anthropic Investment

https://www.theverge.com/2024/11/22/24303185/amazon-anthropic-investment-ai-alexa

AI, Artificial Intelligence, Genealogy, Family History, Technology, OpenAI, Google, Perplexity, ChatGPT, Anthropic, Genealogy AI, MyHeritage LiveMemory, Family History Technology, AI Photo Animation, FamilySearch Full-Text Search, Genealogy Search Tools, Historical Photo Animation, Family History Research, AI Genealogy Tools, Digital Genealogy, Handwritten Records Search, Ancestral Research, MyHeritage Tools, Genealogy Technology, Family Photographs, FamilySearch Tools, Genealogy Social Media, Bluesky Genealogy, AI Research Tools, Ancestry Research, Foreign Genealogy Research, Family History Software, Genealogy Databases, AI Document Analysis, Historical Documents, Genealogy Community, Genealogy Tips, Photo Preservation, Genealogy Innovations, Family History Preservation

Co-hosts Mark Thompson and Steve Little reveal their top recommendations for AI tools worth paying for in 2025. They also discuss which AI tools aren't worth paying for in 2025. One of them might surprise you!

Next, Mark and Steve begin their review of OpenAI's "12 Days of OpenAI" announcements, beginning with the release of their enhanced O1 reasoning model. This new model will help you plan your family history research.

This week's Tip of the Week challenges conventional thinking about AI hallucinations, suggesting ways to leverage this characteristic as a feature rather than a bug.

In RapidFire, Mark and Steve examine Microsoft's Copilot Vision beta release, Apple's cautious AI rollout strategy, Google's new memory feature in Gemini, and XAI's significant funding round.

In The News:

03:10 AI Tools Worth Paying For in 2025

19:48 Specialty AI Tools to Consider in 2025

26:46 AI Tools Not Worth Paying For in 2025

32:26 OpenAI's 12 Days of Gifts Begins

Tip of the Week:

40:10 Treat AI Hallucinations as a Feature, not a Bug

RapidFire:

50:06 Microsoft Copilot Vision Beta Launch

53:18 Apple's Intelligence Rollout Plans

56:20 Google Gemini Adds Memory Feature

59:34 XAI's $6 Billion Funding Round

ChatGPT Plus

https://openai.com/index/chatgpt-plus/

ChatGPT Advanced Voice Mode

https://help.openai.com/en/articles/8400625-voice-mode-faq

Claude Pro

https://claude.ai/

Perplexity Pro

https://www.perplexity.ai/pro

Acrobat AI Assistant

https://helpx.adobe.com/ca/acrobat/using/generative-ai.html

Eleven Labs

https://elevenlabs.io/

Mid Journey

https://www.midjourney.com/

Microsoft Copilot Pro

https://www.microsoft.com/microsoft-365/copilot

Grammarly

https://www.grammarly.com/

ChatGPT O1 Model

https://openai.com/o1/

ChatGPT O1 Pro

https://openai.com/index/introducing-chatgpt-pro/

Microsoft Copilot Vision

https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/microsoft-copilot/blog/2024/12/05/copilot-vision-now-in-preview-a-new-way-to-browse/

Apple Intelligence

https://www.apple.com/ca/apple-intelligence/

Siri

https://www.apple.com/siri/

Gemini Memory Feature

https://techcrunch.com/2024/11/19/googles-gemini-chatbot-now-has-memory/

X AI Platform

https://x.ai/

Artificial Intelligence, Technology, Genealogy, Family History, Machine Learning, AI Tools, AI Product Reviews, AI Pricing, Voice Technology, Image Generation, Research Tools, AI Ethics, Content Creation, Professional Research, Language Models

Co-hosts Mark Thompson and Steve Little explore OpenAI's "12 Days of OpenAI" campaign, particularly focusing on their new reasoning models and the expanded availability of Canvas across all ChatGPT models.

They examine how ChatGPT's new camera view in Advanced Voice Mode transforms mobile research capabilities, demonstrating real-world applications for genealogists.

This week's Tip of the Week reveals how to get the most out of free AI tools by leveraging each one's strengths: Gemini for summarization, Perplexity for research, ChatGPT for reasoning, and Claude for writing.

In RapidFire, they discuss Apple's cautious AI updates in iOS 18.2, the release of GPT Search for free account holders, Harvard's million-book donation for AI training, and OpenAI's festive Santa Chat feature.

In the News:

02:41 12 Days of OpenAI: New Features and Updates

12:15 Canvas Integration: Now Available Across All Models

17:24 Advanced Voice Mode: ChatGPT Gets Camera View

Tip of the Week:

23:29 Maximizing Free AI Tools: The Right Tool for Each Task

RapidFire:

35:52 Apple Intelligence: iOS 18.2 AI Features

40:20 Free GPT Search Goes Public

45:22 Harvard's Million-Book Donation for AI Training

51:52 OpenAI's Santa Chat Mode

Resource LinksChatGPT

https://chatgpt.com/

12 Days of OpenAI

https://openai.com/12-days/

ChatGPT Canvas Feature

https://www.tomsguide.com/ai/chatgpt/openai-announces-official-launch-of-canvas-for-writing-and-coding-heres-whats-new

ChatGPT Projects Feature

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FcB97h3vrzk

GPT Search is now free 

https://www.forbes.com/sites/johnkoetsier/2024/12/16/chatgpt-search-now-free-for-all-heres-why-you-should-try-it/

Advanced Voice Mode with Vision

https://www.tomsguide.com/ai/chatgpt/chatgpt-advanced-voice-with-vision-just-launched-heres-how-to-try-it

ChatGPT Search and the Chrome Extension

https://openai.com/index/introducing-chatgpt-search/

Claude

https://claude.ai

Claude Projects

https://www.anthropic.com/news/projects

Gemini

https://gemini.google.com

Perplexity AI

https://www.perplexity.ai

Perplexity Pages

https://www.perplexity.ai/hub/blog/perplexity-pages

Apple Intelligence

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

Harvard Digital Collections

https://hls.harvard.edu/today/harvards-library-innovation-lab-launches-initiative-to-use-public-domain-data-to-train-artificial-intelligence/

https://institutionaldatainitiative.org/

ChatGPT Santa Mode

https://help.openai.com/en/articles/10139238-santa-s-voice-in-chatgpt

Artificial Intelligence, Genealogy, OpenAI, Family History Research, Voice Technology, ChatGPT, AI Tools, Content Creation, Canvas, 12 Days of OpenAI

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.

In the News:

06:44 Google Deep Research: The New Challenger to Perplexity

18:03 Facebook Groups Get AI Assistants

24:57 NotebookLM: Major Updates for Collaborative Projects

Tip of the Week:

32:15 ChatGPT Projects: Organizing Your Genealogy Do-Over

RapidFire:

41:52 Google's New Fact Benchmark

44:00 Gemini 2.0 Release

48:34 Google AI-Enhanced Search Results

54:48 OpenAI's O3 Model Announcement

AI Seminar at the Victoria Genealogical Society

https://victoriags.org/content.aspx?page_id=4091&club_id=554933&item_id=2488526

Legacy 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 era

https://blog.google/technology/google-deepmind/google-gemini-ai-update-december-2024/

Certified Arborist Facebook Group

https://www.facebook.com/groups/12652295162

Exploring Facebook's New AI Tool for Groups

https://aigenealogyinsights.com/2024/10/22/exploring-facebooks-new-ai-tool-for-groups/

NotebookLM gets a new look, audio interactivity and a premium version

https://blog.google/technology/google-labs/notebooklm-new-features-december-2024/

Using Projects in ChatGPT

https://help.openai.com/en/articles/10169521-using-projects-in-chatgpt

A new benchmark for evaluating the accuracy of large language models

https://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 world

https://blog.google/products/search/ai-overviews-search-october-2024/

OpenAI announces new o3 models

https://techcrunch.com/2024/12/20/openai-announces-new-o3-model/

AI, 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

Co-hosts Mark Thompson and Steve Little share their predictions for artificial intelligence developments in 2025, with a special focus on how these changes will affect genealogists and family historians.

They explore the emergence of AI agents, the shift to running language models locally on personal devices, and the introduction of chatbots to social media platforms. Mark and Steve also discuss how AI writing tools will become mainstream, even as costs decrease and capabilities increase.

Their predictions include both opportunities and challenges, examining which tools may thrive and which may disappoint in the coming year. They conclude with "anti-predictions" – capabilities that, despite high hopes, probably won't materialize in 2025.

What We Can Look Forward to In 2025

01:02 AI Agents: The Next Big Thing

08:06 Local Language Models: Improved Privacy and Security

13:09 Social Media Chatbots: Coming to Your Groups

18:24 AI Writing Tools: The New Normal

24:16 AI Costs: Dropping Fast

30:43 The AI Horse Race: Who Will Lead?

Anti-Predictions: What Won't Happen in 2025

36:01 Handwritten Text Recognition

40:21 AI Generated Family Trees and Diagrams

44:06 Generated Text in Images

Using Claude for 'Computer Use' Tasks

https://docs.anthropic.com/en/docs/build-with-claude/computer-use

OpenAI's Operator Agent

https://openai.com/index/introducing-operator/

Facebook's New AI Tool for Groups

https://aigenealogyinsights.com/2024/10/22/exploring-facebooks-new-ai-tool-for-groups/

What to Know About DeepSeek and How It Is Upending A.I. https://www.nytimes.com/2025/01/27/technology/what-is-deepseek-china-ai.html

Trump's $500B Stargate AI Initiative https://www.forbes.com/sites/ronshevlin/2025/01/23/trumps-ai-push-understanding-the-500-billion-stargate-initiative/

artificial intelligence, technology, genealogy, family history, AI predictions, AI agents, local AI, social media, chatbots, AI writing, language models, OpenAI, DeepSeek, privacy, security, AI costs, machine learning, computer automation, research tools, future technology

Co-hosts Mark Thompson and Steve Little explore how DeepSeek has dramatically changed the AI landscape by releasing a powerful, inexpensive, open-source model that challenges American dominance in AI.

They celebrate the first anniversary of FamilySearch's Full-Text Search, which has expanded from three collections to three thousand in just one-year, revolutionizing access to billions of previously unsearchable records.

Mark and Steve examine how Google and Microsoft are integrating AI into their productivity platforms, making these tools accessible to mainstream family historians at minimal cost.

This week's Tip of the Week demystifies the difference between instructional and reasoning AI models, helping genealogists choose the right tool for the right job.

In RapidFire, they discuss the ambitious $500 billion Project Stargate, major model updates from Gemini and Grok, and how Deep Research capabilities are becoming standard across all AI platforms.

In the News:

04:34 DeepSeek Shakes the AI World: Game-Changing Model from China

15:51 FamilySearch Full-Text Search Turns One: From Thousands to Billions of Records

23:33 Google and Microsoft Go All-In: AI Integrated into Workspace Tools

Tip of the Week:

29:22 Know Your Model: Understanding Instructional vs. Reasoning AI

RapidFire:

42:25 The Stargate Project: $500 Billion AI Infrastructure Initiative

45:38 Major Model Updates: Gemini 2.0 and Grok 3 Beta Released

48:41 Deep Research Becomes Industry Standard: Available Across All Major Platforms

DeepSeek Backgrounder

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/DeepSeek

Family Search Free Text Search

https://www.familysearch.org/search/full-text/collection/list

Free Text Search of Ireland, Properties, from 1298 to 1975

https://www.familysearch.org/search/full-text/collection/M9J1-ZYL

Copilot is now included in Microsoft 365 Personal and Family

https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/microsoft-365/blog/2025/01/16/copilot-is-now-included-in-microsoft-365-personal-and-family/

Google AI now Included in Workspace Plans

https://workspace.google.com/blog/product-announcements/empowering-businesses-with-AI

Introducing OpenAI o1

https://openai.com/o1/

OpenAI o3-mini

https://openai.com/index/openai-o3-mini/

Announcing The Stargate Project

https://openai.com/index/announcing-the-stargate-project/

Gemini 2.0 is now available to everyone

https://blog.google/technology/google-deepmind/gemini-model-updates-february-2025/

Grok 3 Beta — The Age of Reasoning Agents

https://x.ai/blog/grok-3

Try Deep Research

https://blog.google/products/gemini/google-gemini-deep-research/

Introducing deep research from OpenAI

https://openai.com/index/introducing-deep-research/

Introducing Perplexity Deep Research

https://www.perplexity.ai/hub/blog/introducing-perplexity-deep-research

Artificial Intelligence, Technology, Genealogy, Family History, DeepSeek, AI Models, FamilySearch, Full-Text Search, Open Source AI, Microsoft 365, Google Workspace, Reasoning Models, Instructional Models, Language Models, Stargate Project, AI Infrastructure, Research Tools, Deep Research, AI Capabilities

Co-hosts Mark Thompson and Steve Little are excited to share OpenAI's Advanced Voice Mode, which enables natural conversations with AI, and how FamilySearch's expanded full-text Search is revolutionizing records accessibility. They stress responsible AI use throughout this week's episode, introducing a new series on verifying the accuracy of AI-generated information.

Send your stories of AI accuracy (or accuracy failures) to ResponsibleAI@MakingFamilyHistory.com

New tools like Google's Notebook LM and Apple's Visual Intelligence promise to enhance research capabilities. Throughout, cohosts Mark Thompson and Steve Little emphasize the need for accuracy and verification of facts to combat AI "hallucinations."

Genealogists must adapt their skills to leverage these powerful tools as AI evolves.

The episode highlights the exciting potential and the critical importance of responsible AI use in family history research.

In the News

02:11 ChatGPT Advanced Voice Mode Finally Arrives

23:26 FamilySearch Full-Text Search Adds a Million Canadian Probate and Homestead Records

Tip of the Week

30:42 Responsible AI Series Debuts: Accuracy Takes Center Stage

RapidFire

38:55 Google's NotebookLM is Easy, Powerful Collaborative Workspace

46:17 Google Battles Hallucinations with Real-World Data

49:28 Apple's Visual Intelligence Promises to Enhance Historical Exploration

Email your stories of accurate AI done right (and complete accuracy failures) to responsibleai@makingfamilyhistory.com

OpenAI Advanced Voice Mode: https://help.openai.com/en/articles/8400625-voice-mode-faq

Meta debuts AI chatbot voiced by celebrities: https://www.cbsnews.com/news/meta-ai-chatbot-celebrity-voices-judi-dench-john-cena-awkwafina-mark-zuckerberg/

Google Gemini Live: https://blog.google/products/gemini/made-by-google-gemini-ai-updates/

FamilySearch Full-text Search: https://www.familysearch.org/search/full-text

Google Notebook LM: https://blog.google/technology/ai/notebooklm-audio-overviews/

Google DataGemma: https://blog.google/technology/ai/google-datagemma-ai-llm/

Apple Visual Intelligence: https://www.apple.com/newsroom/2024/09/apple-introduces-iphone-16-and-iphone-16-plus/

artificial intelligence, genealogy, family history, technology, AI tools, ChatGPT, FamilySearch, full-text search, probate records, responsible AI use, Google, Apple, voice assistants, Canadian records, Irish names, OCR technology, AI accuracy, hallucinations in AI, AI ethics, NotebookLM, hands-free research, mobile genealogy, AI-powered transcription, historical records, Data Gemma, NotebookLM, Visual Intelligence