The Family History AI Show

Co-hosts Mark Thompson and Steve Little open with a deep look at MyHeritage's new Scribe AI, a new AI tool that analyzes records, photographs, gravestones, and coats of arms and provides genealogy relevant research suggestions. It even works on your own photographs.This episode features an interview with Dave Vance, General Manager of Family Tree DNA, exploring how the hottest new genetic genealogy tests, provided by next-generation sequencing, deliver 400 times more genomic info than traditional microarray chips and what that means for matching, triangulation, and the future role of AI in genetic genealogy.In RapidFire, the hosts cover Fold3's AI-powered full-text search for Revolutionary War pension files, Claude for Excel as a practical AI plug-in for Microsoft's spreadsheet, and Wikipedia's decision to ban AI-generated article content.TimestampsOpening00:05 GRIP 2026 Course AnnouncementsIn the News05:03 MyHeritage Scribe AI: Record and Photo Analysis for GenealogistsInterview14:58 Dave Vance, Family Tree DNA: Next-Generation Sequencing and AI in Genetic GenealogyRapidFire45:54 Fold3 Full-Text Search: Revolutionary War Pension Files Now Searchable53:46 Claude for Excel: AI-Powered Spreadsheet Analysis Plug-in1:00:47 Wikipedia's AI Policy: Editors Vote to Ban AI-Generated ContentFinal Thoughts1:08:19 Episode Wrap and Next Interview PreviewResource LinksGRIP Genealogy Institute 2026 CoursesGRIP Genealogy Institute https://grip.ngsgenealogy.org/MyHeritage Scribe AIIntroducing Scribe AI https://blog.myheritage.com/2026/03/introducing-scribe-ai/Fold3 Full-Text SearchRevolutionary War Pension Files: Now Available Through Full-Text Search https://blog.fold3.com/revolutionary-war-pension-files-now-available-through-full-text-search/Claude for ExcelUse Claude for Excel https://support.claude.com/en/articles/12650343-use-claude-for-excelWikipedia AI PolicyWikipedia Cracks Down on the Use of AI in Article Writing https://techcrunch.com/2026/03/26/wikipedia-cracks-down-on-the-use-of-ai-in-article-writing/Wikipedia: Artificial Intelligence Policy https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Artificial_intelligenceTagsArtificial Intelligence, Genealogy, Family History, MyHeritage, Scribe AI, Family Tree DNA, Dave Vance, Next-Generation Sequencing, Genetic Genealogy, Fold3, Handwriting Recognition, Full-Text Search, Claude for Excel, Wikipedia, AI Policy, Record Analysis, Photo Analysis, Revolutionary War, RootsTech, AI Tools

In the last episode of 2025, Co-hosts Mark Thompson and Steve Little present their predictions for how artificial intelligence will transform genealogy research in 2026. This special episode examines fourteen key trends shaping the future of family history AI.Mark and Steve predict that AI tools will move from enthusiast circles into mainstream genealogy practice, with AI-enhanced apps like NotebookLM becoming more important than the underlying language models that people have focused on for the past three years.They explore how handwritten text recognition will become more accurate and accessible, and that genealogy companies will cautiously integrate new AI features, first focusing on helping us with our research.Timestamps:02:33 Family History AI Goes Mainstream: From Enthusiasts to Everyday Users04:13 Apps Over Models: Why Platform Features Matter More Than LLMs06:17 Reusable Prompting Tools: GPTs, Projects, and Gems Boost Efficiency08:02 AI-Enhanced Research Gains Acceptance Among Serious Genealogists09:53 Handwritten Text Recognition Gets Better, Easier, and Cheaper12:18 Genealogy Companies Take Cautious Approach to Generative AI17:07 AI-Enhanced Browsers Become Standard, Agentic Features Raise Concerns24:25 Voice Interfaces to AI Remain Niche in 202627:36 LLM Vendors Push File and Email Integration for Stickiness31:46 Productivity Tools Embed LLMs Everywhere35:56 The AI Horse Race: Three Leaders Emerge41:15 AI Licensing Deals Change Internet Access Patterns44:34 The AI Bubble Conversation is important to society, but less so to GenealogistsResource Links:The Family History AI Show Academy https://tixoom.app/fhaishowFamily History AI Goes MainstreamWhat Can AI Do for Your Genealogical Research? – James Tanner (Nov 2025) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SXmVKy1pUPEFamilySearch Shares Plans for 2025 (Includes AI integration details) https://newsroom.churchofjesuschrist.org/article/familysearch-shares-plans-for-2025Reusable Prompting ToolsCustom GPTs vs. Gemini Gems: Who Wins? - Learn Prompting (Aug 2025) https://learnprompting.org/blog/custom-gpts-vs-gemini-gemsAI-Enhanced ResearchUnlocking Family Histories: How AI Is Breathing New Life into Handwritten Records (South Central APG)https://southcentralapg.org/2025/08/16/unlocking-family-histories-how-ai-is-breathing-new-life-into-handwritten-records/Handwritten Text RecognitionA new Google model is nearly perfect on automated handwriting recognition - Hacker News https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=45887262Cautious AI from Genealogy CompaniesAI-Enhanced BrowsersCompliance alert: Do not use AI browsershttps://vinciworks.com/blog/compliance-alert-do-not-use-ai-browsers/Content Integration with ChatbotsGemini vs Copilot: A Quick Comparison Guide (2025) - Tactiqhttps://tactiq.io/learn/gemini-vs-copilotAI in Office Productivity ToolsMicrosoft Copilot in 2025: What's Changed & What's Next | Aldridgehttps://aldridge.com/microsoft-copilot-in-2025-whats-changed-whats-next/Monthly Round Up: New Features in Microsoft 365 Copilot (Dec 2025)https://dynamicscommunities.com/ug/copilot-ug/monthly-round-up-new-features-in-microsoft-365-copilot/The AI Horse RaceThe Best AI in October 2025? We Compared ChatGPT, Claude, Grok, Gemini & Others - FelloAIhttps://felloai.com/the-best-ai-in-october-2025-we-compared-chatgpt-claude-grok-gemini-others/The 2025 AI Coding Models: Comprehensive Guide to the Top 5 Contenders - CodeGPThttps://www.codegpt.co/blog/ai-coding-models-2025-comprehensive-guideAI Licensing DealsContent Licensing Agreements Will Concentrate Markets Without Standardized Access - ProMarket(Nov 2025) https://www.promarket.org/2025/11/20/content-licensing-agreements-will-concentrate-markets-without-standardized-access/The False Hope of Content Licensing at Internet Scale - ProMarkethttps://www.promarket.org/2025/11/19/the-false-hope-of-content-licensing-at-internet-scale/The AI Bubble ConversationThe AI boom will turn to bust in 2026https://www.marketwatch.com/story/the-ai-boom-will-turn-to-bust-next-year-says-this-forecaster-who-offers-his-trade-of-the-year-9c2a2332OUTLOOK 2026 Promise and Pressure - J.P. Morgan (Discusses AI market stability vs bubble risks)https://www.jpmorgan.com/content/dam/jpmorgan/documents/wealth-management/outlook-2026.pdfTags:Artificial Intelligence, Genealogy, Family History, AI Predictions, NotebookLM, HTR, AI Browsers, ChatGPT, Google Gemini, Anthropic Claude

Co-hosts Mark Thompson and Steve Little examine Google's groundbreaking Gemini 3 release, which delivers state-of-the-art multimodal reasoning and sets a new benchmark for AI capabilities. They also explore ChatGPT's upgrade to version 5.1 with improved instruction following and better handling of longer conversation.The hosts discuss Canva's new Creative Operating System, which now generates AI-powered designs directly within the platform.This week's Tip of the Week demonstrates how Gemini 3 can use the context you provide it to greatly improve the accuracy of your hand written transcription.In RapidFire, they cover NotebookLM's new deep research mode, Nano Banana's integration into Photoshop, Anthropic's privacy policy changes regarding training data, and how Claude's new usage monitoring feature can reduce your stress level.Timestamps:In the News:04:17 Google Gemini 3’s Multimodal AI Reaches New Heights13:47 ChatGPT 5.1 upgrade is now better at following your Instructions22:39 Canva Creative Operating System: AI-Powered Design GenerationTip of the Week:26:21 Adding Reasoning to Your Transcriptions Improves AccuracyRapidFire:36:40 NotebookLM Becomes a Fully Featured Research Tool43:40 Nano Banana is Now Available in Photoshop47:20 Anthropic Announces Claude Chats Will Be Used for Training Data54:13 View Your Claude Usage in SettingsResource Links:Intro to Family History AI by the Family History AI Show Academyhttps://tixoom.app/fhaishowGoogle Gemini 3Introducing Gemini 3: A New Era of Intelligencehttps://blog.google/products/gemini/gemini-3/ChatGPT 5.1A smarter, more conversationalhttps://openai.com/index/gpt-5-1/GPT-5.1 New Features Explainedhttps://scalevise.com/resources/gpt-5-1-new-features/Canva Creative Operating SystemIntroducing Canva's Creative Operating Systemhttps://www.canva.com/newsroom/news/creative-operating-system/NotebookLM Deep ResearchNotebookLM adds Deep Research and support for more source typeshttps://blog.google/technology/google-labs/notebooklm-deep-research-file-types/Nano Banana in PhotoshopCreate with unlimited generations using Google Gemini 3 (Nano Banana Pro) in Adobe Fireflyhttps://blog.adobe.com/en/publish/2025/11/20/google-gemini-3-nano-banana-pro-firefly-photoshopAnthropic Privacy Policy UpdateAnthropic Will Use Claude Chats for Training Data: How to Opt Outhttps://www.wired.com/story/anthropic-using-claude-chats-for-training-how-to-opt-out/Updates to Consumer Terms and Privacy Policyhttps://www.anthropic.com/news/updates-to-our-consumer-termsClaude Usage MonitoringUsage Limit Best Practiceshttps://support.claude.com/en/articles/9797557-usage-limit-best-practicesTags:Artificial Intelligence, Genealogy, Family History, Google Gemini, ChatGPT, Canva, NotebookLM, Nano Banana, Anthropic Claude, Photo Restoration

Co-hosts Mark Thompson and Steve Little explore how Google's Nano Banana photo restoration tool will revolutionize image restoration by integrating with Adobe Photoshop. This move will greatly reduce unintended changes to historical photos when editing them with AI.Next, they unpack OpenAI’s move to make ChatGPT Projects available to free-tier users, making research organization more accessible for genealogists.This week's Tip of the Week provides essential guidance on the responsible use AI when editing historical photos using AI tools like Nano Banana, ensuring transparency and trust in historical photographs.In RapidFire, they cover OpenAI's new Sora 2 AI-video social media platform, Claude's new ability to create and edit Microsoft Office files, memory features in Claude Projects, advancements in local language models, and how OpenAI's massive infrastructure deals are changing the AI landscape.Timestamps:In the News:02:43 Adobe improves historical photo restoration by adding Nano Banana to Photoshop09:34 ChatGPT Projects are Now FreeTip of the Week:13:36 Citations for AI-Restored Images Build Trust in AI-Modified PhotosRapidFire:21:24 Sora 2 Goes Social27:23 Claude Adds Microsoft Office Creation and Editing34:26 Memory Features Come to Claude Projects38:32 Apple and Amazon both create Local Language Model tools44:47 OpenAI's Big Data Centre Deal with Oracle Resource LinksOpenAI announces free access to ChatGPT Projectshttps://help.openai.com/en/articles/6825453-chatgpt-release-notesEngadget: OpenAI Rolls Out ChatGPT Projects to Free Usershttps://www.engadget.com/ai/openai-rolls-out-chatgpt-projects-to-free-users-215027802.htmlForbes: OpenAI Makes ChatGPT Projects Freehttps://www.forbes.com/sites/quickerbettertech/2025/09/14/small-business-technology-roundup-microsoft-copilot-does-not-improve-productivity-and-openai-makes-chatgpt-project-free/Responsible AI Photo Restorationhttps://makingfamilyhistory.com/responsible-ai-photo-restoration/Claude now has memory, but only for certain usershttps://mashable.com/article/anthropic-claude-ai-now-has-memory-for-some-usersNew Apple Intelligence features are available todayhttps://www.apple.com/newsroom/2025/09/new-apple-intelligence-features-are-available-today/Introducing Amazon Lens Livehttps://www.aboutamazon.com/news/retail/search-image-amazon-lens-live-shopping-rufusAmazon Lens Live Can Scan and Pull Up Matcheshttps://www.pcmag.com/news/spot-an-item-you-wish-to-buy-amazon-lens-live-can-scan-and-pull-up-matchesA Joint Statement from OpenAI and Microsoft About Their Changing Partnershiphttps://openai.com/index/joint-statement-from-openai-and-microsoft/The Verge: OpenAI and Oracle Pen $300 Billion Compute Dealhttps://www.theverge.com/ai-artificial-intelligence/776170/oracle-openai-300-billion-contract-project-stargateReuters: OpenAI and Oracle Sign $300 Billion Computing Dealhttps://www.reuters.com/technology/openai-oracle-sign-300-billion-computing-deal-wsj-reports-2025-09-10/?utm_source=chatgpt.comTagsArtificial Intelligence, Genealogy, Family History, Photo Restoration, AI Tools, OpenAI, Google, Adobe Photoshop, ChatGPT Projects, Nano Banana, Image Editing, AI Citations, Sora 2, Video Generation, Claude, Microsoft Office, Apple Intelligence, Amazon Lens, Oracle, Cloud Computing, Local Language Models, AI Infrastructure, Responsible AI, Historical Photos

Co-hosts Mark Thompson and Steve Little return from summer break to discuss the mixed reception of ChatGPT 5 and how OpenAI responded to user feedback.They explore Google's game-changing Nano Banana (Gemini Flash Image) model that revolutionizes selective image editing, reigniting debates about AI photo restoration in genealogy.This week's Tip of the Week emphasizes not letting perfect be the enemy of the good, especially when it comes to AI-powered citation. Mark shares his experience with 100 citations as part of the WikiTree Challenge.In RapidFire, they cover Apple's possible Gemini partnership, new AI study modes for back-to-school season, Anthropic's copyright settlement, and controversial changes to its privacy policy. They close with escalating skirmishes in the escalating AI browser wars.Timestamps:In the News:05:14 ChatGPT 5 Launch Aftermath: Mixed Reception and Quick Fixes 17:15 Nano Banana: Google's Game-Changing Image Editing ModelTip of the Week:32:38 Don't Let Perfect Be the Enemy of Good: Building Citation PromptsRapidFire:43:27 Apple Explores Google Gemini Partnership for Siri 47:16 Back to School: AI Study Modes from ChatGPT and Gemini 53:00 Anthropic Settles Copyright Lawsuit with Authors 56:29 Anthropic Reverses Privacy Stance on Training Data 60:55 AI Browser Wars: Anthropic and Google Enter the FrayResource LinksIntro to Family History AI by the Family History AI Show Academyhttps://tixoom.app/fhaishowMass Intelligence by Ethan Mollickhttps://www.oneusefulthing.org/p/mass-intelligenceCreate and edit images with Geminihttps://deepmind.google/models/gemini/image/Google take 'giant leap' with launch of 'Nano Banana'https://www.uniladtech.com/news/ai/google-giant-leap-nano-banana-launch-image-editing-305898-20250828Apple Explores Using Google Gemini AI to Power Revamped Sirihttps://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2025-08-22/apple-explores-using-google-gemini-ai-to-power-revamped-siriGuided Learning in Gemini: From answers to understandinghttps://blog.google/outreach-initiatives/education/guided-learning/Introducing study modehttps://openai.com/index/chatgpt-study-mode/Anthropic Settles Copyright Lawsuithttps://www.reuters.com/legal/government/anthropics-surprise-settlement-adds-new-wrinkle-ai-copyright-war-2025-08-27/Anthropic Updates Data Policyhttps://www.anthropic.com/news/updates-to-our-consumer-termsNew Opt-Out Policy Reverses Stance on Using Consumer Data for AI Traininghttps://techcrunch.com/2025/08/28/anthropic-users-face-a-new-choice-opt-out-or-share-your-data-for-ai-training/Anthropic launches a Claude AI agent that lives in Chromehttps://techcrunch.com/2025/08/26/anthropic-launches-a-claude-ai-agent-that-lives-in-chrome/Google is launching a Gemini integration in Chromehttps://techcrunch.com/2025/05/20/google-is-launching-a-gemini-integration-in-chrome/TagsArtificial Intelligence, Genealogy, Family History, Technology, ChatGPT, OpenAI, Google Gemini, Anthropic Claude, Image Editing, Nano Banana, AI Photography, Citation Management, WikiTree, AI Study Modes, Copyright Law, Privacy Policy, Browser Extensions, AI Training Data, Photo Restoration, Apple Siri, Educational AI, Model Selection, AI Ethics, Chrome Integration

Co-hosts Mark Thompson and Steve Little deliver a special same-day episode covering the long-awaited release of ChatGPT-5, which launched today, August 7, 2025.They explore the most significant improvements in the upgrade for genealogists, including automated model selection that eliminates confusing settings for beginners, enhanced reasoning capabilities that reduce hallucinations by 45%, and big increase in the amount of information or documents that can be processed at once. Mark demonstrates ChatGPT-5's improved image analysis with cabinet card photos, revealing how the model now provides research suggestions automatically.This extra podcast also announces the launch of the Family History AI Show Academy, with Mark and Steve's first five-week course... "Introduction to Family History AI" beginning October 14th.Introduction to Family History AI with Mark Thompson and Steve Littlehttps://tixoom.app/fhaishow/Key Features Highlighted:Automated Model SelectionEnhanced ReasoningLarger Context WindowImproved Vision AnalysisBetter Document GroundingResource Links:Introduction to Family History AI https://tixoom.app/fhaishow/GPT-5 is here https://openai.com/gpt-5/Introducing GPT-5 https://openai.com/index/introducing-gpt-5/OpenAI launches new GPT-5 model for all ChatGPT users https://www.cnbc.com/2025/08/07/openai-launches-gpt-5-model-for-all-chatgpt-users.htmlTags:Artificial Intelligence, Genealogy, Family History, OpenAI, ChatGPT-5, AI Tools, Emergency Podcast, Model Selection, Reasoning Models, Context Window, Image Analysis, Cabinet Cards, Handwritten Text Recognition, Document Processing, Hallucination Reduction, AI Education, Family History AI Show Academy, Research Automation, Vision Analysis, Agentic AI, Professional Genealogy

Co-hosts Mark Thompson and Steve Little explore Perplexity's groundbreaking Comet browser, which brings AI directly to web pages and can autonomously navigate sites to collect genealogical data.They examine Grok 4's impressive benchmark performance while discussing its limitations for genealogical research and safety concerns.This week's Tip of the Week introduces "context engineering" - the art of providing maximum information to AI tools through examples, documents, and prior conversations for superior results.In RapidFire, they cover Google's Veo 3 photo-to-video tool, Silicon Valley's dramatic Windsurf acquisition battle, and OpenAI's new ChatGPT Agent that can control computers autonomously.Timestamps:In the News:07:47 Perplexity's Comet Browser: AI-Enhanced Research and Web Surfing20:32 Grok 4 Released: Benchmark Success, Real-World ChallengesTip of the Week:27:53 Context Engineering: Maximizing AI Results with Rich InformationRapidFire:36:02 Google Veo 3: Transform Photos into Videos44:19 Windsurf Acquisition Drama: AI Consolidation Begins53:58 ChatGPT Agent: Autonomous Computer Control ArrivesResource LinksOfficial Comet Launch Announcementhttps://www.perplexity.ai/hub/blog/introducing-cometPerplexity launches Comet, an AI-powered web browserhttps://techcrunch.com/2025/07/09/perplexity-launches-comet-an-ai-powered-web-browser/Every: Vibe Check: Grok 4 Aced Its Exams. The Real World Is a Different Storyhttps://every.to/vibe-check/vibe-check-grok-4-aced-its-exams-the-real-world-is-a-different-storyLM Arena Leaderboardhttps://lmarena.ai/leaderboardTechCrunch: Google adds image-to-video generation capability to Veo 3https://techcrunch.com/2025/07/10/google-adds-image-to-video-generation-capability-to-veo-3/Windsurf's CEO goes to Google; OpenAI's acquisition falls aparthttps://techcrunch.com/2025/07/11/windsurfs-ceo-goes-to-google-openais-acquisition-falls-apart/Every: Vibe Check: OpenAI Enters the Browser Wars With ChatGPT Agenthttps://every.to/vibe-check/vibe-check-openai-enters-the-browser-wars-with-chatgpt-agentTechCrunch: AWS is launching an AI agent marketplace next week with Anthropic as a partnerhttps://techcrunch.com/2025/07/10/aws-is-launching-an-ai-agent-marketplace-next-week-with-anthropic-as-a-partner/TagsArtificial Intelligence, Genealogy, Family History, AI Browsers, Web Navigation, Perplexity Comet, Grok 4, ChatGPT Agent, Context Engineering, AI Tools, Agentic Browsers, Video Generation, Google Veo 3, Windsurf Acquisition

Co-hosts Mark Thompson and Steve Little examine the controversial rise of AI image "restoration" and discuss how entirely new images are being generated, rather than the original photos being restored. This is raising concerns about the preservation of authentic family photos.They discuss Mark's reconsideration of canceling his Perplexity subscription after rediscovering its unique strengths for supporting research.The hosts analyze recent court rulings that permit AI training on legally acquired content, plus Disney's ongoing case against Midjourney.This week's Tip of the Week explores how project workspaces in ChatGPT and Claude can greatly simplify your genealogical research.In RapidFire, the hosts cover Meta's aggressive AI hiring spree, the proliferation of AI tools in everyday software, including a new genealogy transcription tool from Dan Maloney, and the importance of reading AI news critically.Timestamps:In the News:06:50 The Pros and Cons of "Restoring" Family Photos with AI23:58 Mark is Cancelling Perplexity... Maybe32:33 AI Copyright Cases Are Starting to Work Their Way Through the CourtsTip of the Week:40:09 How Project Workspaces Help Genealogists Stay OrganizedRapidFire:48:51 Meta Goes on a Hiring Spree56:09 AI Is Everywhere!01:06:00 Reading AI News ResponsiblyResource LinksOpenAI: Introducing 4o Image Generation https://openai.com/index/introducing-4o-image-generation/Perplexity https://www.perplexity.ai/How does Perplexity work? https://www.perplexity.ai/help-center/en/articles/10352895-how-does-perplexity-workAnthropic wins key US ruling on AI training in authors' copyright lawsuit https://www.reuters.com/legal/litigation/anthropic-wins-key-ruling-ai-authors-copyright-lawsuit-2025-06-24/Meta wins AI copyright lawsuit as US judge rules against authors https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2025/jun/26/meta-wins-ai-copyright-lawsuit-as-us-judge-rules-against-authorsDisney, Universal sue image creator Midjourney for copyright infringement https://www.reuters.com/business/media-telecom/disney-universal-sue-image-creator-midjourney-copyright-infringement-2025-06-11/Disney and Universal Sue A.I. Firm for Copyright Infringement https://www.nytimes.com/2025/06/11/business/media/disney-universal-midjourney-ai.htmlProjects in ChatGPThttps://help.openai.com/en/articles/10169521-projects-in-chatgptMeta shares hit all-time high as Mark Zuckerberg goes on AI hiring blitz https://www.cnbc.com/2025/06/30/meta-hits-all-time-mark-zuckerberg-ai-blitz.htmlHere's What Mark Zuckerberg Is Offering Top AI Talent https://www.wired.com/story/mark-zuckerberg-meta-offer-top-ai-talent-300-million/Genealogy Assistant AI Handwritten Text Recognition Tool https://www.genea.ca/htr-tool/Borland Genetics https://borlandgenetics.com/Illusion of Thinking https://machinelearning.apple.com/research/illusion-of-thinkingSimon Willison: Seven replies to the viral Apple reasoning paper -- and why they fall short https://simonwillison.net/2025/Jun/15/viral-apple-reasoning-paper/MIT: Your Brain on ChatGPT https://www.media.mit.edu/projects/your-brain-on-chatgpt/overview/MIT researchers say using ChatGPT can rot your brain. The truth is a little more complicated https://theconversation.com/mit-researchers-say-using-chatgpt-can-rot-your-brain-the-truth-is-a-little-more-complicated-259450Guiding Principles for Responsible AI in Genealogy https://craigen.org/TagsArtificial Intelligence, Genealogy, Family History, AI Tools, Image Generation, AI Ethics, Perplexity, ChatGPT, Claude, Meta, Copyright Law, AI Training, Photo Restoration, Project Management, AI Development, Research Tools, Responsible AI Use, GRIP, AI News Analysis, Vibe Coding, Coalition for Responsible AI in Genealogy, AI Hiring, Dan Maloney, Handwritten Text Recognition

Co-hosts Mark Thompson and Steve Little explore OpenAI's revolutionary update to ChatGPT 4o's image generation capabilities, which now creates photorealistic images with accurate text and consistent characters across multiple images.They interview Jarrett Ross from The GeneaVlogger YouTube channel, who shares how he uses AI in his business and in his projects, including an innovative facial recognition project that identifies people in historical photographs from Poland.The hosts also examine OpenAI's O3 model's groundbreaking image analysis abilities, demonstrating how it can now automatically zoom in on handwritten text and reason through complex photographic analysis.This episode showcases how AI image tools are transforming genealogical research while emphasizing the importance of responsible use.Timestamps:In the News:06:26 ChatGPT 4o Image Generation: Photorealism and Text Accuracy RevolutionInterview30:48 Interview with Jarrett Ross: AI Facial Recognition in GenealogyRapidFire:52:01 ChatGPT O3: Advanced Image Analysis with Reasoning CapabilitiesResource Links:ChatGPT 4o Image Generationhttps://openai.com/index/introducing-4o-image-generation/What OpenAI Did -- Ethan Mollickhttps://www.oneusefulthing.org/p/what-openai-didThe GeneaVlogger YouTube Channelhttps://www.youtube.com/channel/UCm_QNoNtgi2Sk4H9Y2SInmgOpenAI Releases new o3 and o4 Mini modelshttps://openai.com/index/introducing-o3-and-o4-mini/On Jagged AGI: o3, Gemini 2.5, and everything after -- Ethan Mollickhttps://www.oneusefulthing.org/p/on-jagged-agi-o3-gemini-25-and-everythingTags:Artificial Intelligence, Genealogy, Family History, OpenAI, ChatGPT, Image Generation, Facial Recognition, Photo Analysis, AI Tools, GeneaVlogger, Jarrett Ross, Jewish Genealogy, Historical Photos, Document Analysis, OCR Technology, Handwriting Recognition, Photo Restoration, AI Ethics, Responsible AI Use, Image Authentication, DALL-E, O3 Model, Reasoning Models, Archive Photos, Community Projects

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.Timestamps:What We Can Look Forward to In 202501:02 AI Agents: The Next Big Thing08:06 Local Language Models: Improved Privacy and Security13:09 Social Media Chatbots: Coming to Your Groups18:24 AI Writing Tools: The New Normal24:16 AI Costs: Dropping Fast30:43 The AI Horse Race: Who Will Lead?Anti-Predictions: What Won't Happen in 202536:01 Handwritten Text Recognition40:21 AI Generated Family Trees and Diagrams44:06 Generated Text in ImagesResource Links:Using Claude for 'Computer Use' Taskshttps://docs.anthropic.com/en/docs/build-with-claude/computer-useOpenAI's Operator Agenthttps://openai.com/index/introducing-operator/Facebook's New AI Tool for Groupshttps://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.htmlTrump's $500B Stargate AI Initiative https://www.forbes.com/sites/ronshevlin/2025/01/23/trumps-ai-push-understanding-the-500-billion-stargate-initiative/Tags: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 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.Timestamps:In the News:02:41 12 Days of OpenAI: New Features and Updates12:15 Canvas Integration: Now Available Across All Models17:24 Advanced Voice Mode: ChatGPT Gets Camera ViewTip of the Week:23:29 Maximizing Free AI Tools: The Right Tool for Each TaskRapidFire:35:52 Apple Intelligence: iOS 18.2 AI Features40:20 Free GPT Search Goes Public45:22 Harvard's Million-Book Donation for AI Training51:52 OpenAI's Santa Chat ModeResource LinksChatGPThttps://chatgpt.com/12 Days of OpenAIhttps://openai.com/12-days/ChatGPT Canvas Featurehttps://www.tomsguide.com/ai/chatgpt/openai-announces-official-launch-of-canvas-for-writing-and-coding-heres-whats-newChatGPT Projects Featurehttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FcB97h3vrzkGPT 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 Visionhttps://www.tomsguide.com/ai/chatgpt/chatgpt-advanced-voice-with-vision-just-launched-heres-how-to-try-itChatGPT Search and the Chrome Extensionhttps://openai.com/index/introducing-chatgpt-search/Claudehttps://claude.aiClaude Projectshttps://www.anthropic.com/news/projectsGeminihttps://gemini.google.comPerplexity AIhttps://www.perplexity.aiPerplexity Pageshttps://www.perplexity.ai/hub/blog/perplexity-pagesApple Intelligencehttps://www.apple.com/apple-intelligenceHarvard Digital Collectionshttps://hls.harvard.edu/today/harvards-library-innovation-lab-launches-initiative-to-use-public-domain-data-to-train-artificial-intelligence/https://institutionaldatainitiative.org/ChatGPT Santa Modehttps://help.openai.com/en/articles/10139238-santa-s-voice-in-chatgptTags (broad to specific, unique terms)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 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.Timestamps:IN THE NEWS03:02 MyHeritage's Goes Viral (again!) with LiveMemory10:56 Top Five AI Breakthroughs for Genealogists in 2024Chatbots 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 Records27:27 The Great Bluesky MigrationTIP OF THE WEEK32:17 Use AI To Research the Home CountryRAPIDFIRE40:41 Google Loses Antitrust Cases 44:33 OpenAI Announces Web Browser Initiative48:25 Amazon's $4B Anthropic InvestmentResource LinksIN THE NEWSMyHeritage's Goes Viral (again!) with LiveMemoryLiveMemoryhttps://www.myheritage.com/livememory/Runway MLhttps://runwayml.com/TOP 5 AI BREAKTHROUGHSIntroducing OpenAI o1-previewhttps://openai.com/index/introducing-openai-o1-preview/Claude Artifactshttps://support.anthropic.com/en/articles/9487310-what-are-artifacts-and-how-do-i-use-themChatGPT Canvashttps://openai.com/index/introducing-canvas/Google NotebookLMhttps://notebooklm.google.com/Claude Projectshttps://www.anthropic.com/news/projectsPerplexity Spaceshttps://www.perplexity.ai/hub/faq/what-are-spacesIntroducing ChatGPT Searchhttps://openai.com/index/introducing-chatgpt-search/Perplexityhttps://www.perplexity.ai/Googlehttps://www.google.com/FamilySearch Full-Text Searchhttps://www.familysearch.org/en/help/helpcenter/article/find-the-new-full-text-search-for-historical-recordsBLUESKY MIGRATIONBluesky Socialhttps://bsky.app/Mark Thompson’s Bluesky Handlehttps://bsky.app/profile/makingfamilyhistory.comSteve Little’s Bluesky Handlehttps://bsky.app/profile/digitalarchivst.bsky.socialRAPIDFIREGoogle Loses Antitrust Caseshttps://www.npr.org/2024/08/05/nx-s1-5064624/google-justice-department-antitrust-searchhttps://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-saleOpenAI Announces Web Browser Initiativehttps://www.pcmag.com/news/openai-working-on-a-web-browser-to-compete-with-google-chromehttps://www.reuters.com/technology/artificial-intelligence/openai-considers-taking-google-with-browser-information-reports-2024-11-21/Amazon's $4B Anthropic Investmenthttps://www.theverge.com/2024/11/22/24303185/amazon-anthropic-investment-ai-alexaTags 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 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.Timestamps:In the News:04:15 OpenAI Canvas: The New Frontier of AI Writing12:40 The Great Shift: AI Platforms vs Traditional Software26:20 Perplexity Spaces: Collaborative AI Research BreakthroughTip of the Week:31:30 Privacy & Protection: Smart Guidelines for AI Use in Family HistoryRapidFire:39:15 Apple's Research on AI Reasoning: What It Means for Users43:40 NotebookLM's Game-Changing Audio Features49:25 Apple Intelligence: iOS 18.1 PreviewResource LinksOpenAIChatGPT: https://chatgpt.com/ Canvas feature: https://openai.com/index/introducing-canvas/AnthropicClaude 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-themProjects feature: https://www.anthropic.com/news/projects GoogleNotebookLM: 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/PerplexitySpaces (collaborative feature): https://www.perplexity.ai/hub/faq/what-are-spacesPages feature: https://www.perplexity.ai/hub/blog/perplexity-pagesMicrosoftMicrosoft 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 AppleApple 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-intelligenceTagsFamily 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.