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 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 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 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 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 [email protected]

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 [email protected]

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

I. AI In the News

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

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

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

II. Tip of the Week

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

III. RapidFire

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Ideogram: https://ideogram.ai/

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

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

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

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

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

OpenAI: https://openai.com/

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

DALL-E: https://chat.openai.com 

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

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

Grok AI: https://grok.x.ai 

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

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

Zoom: https://zoom.us 

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

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

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