Artificial Intelligence is no longer a futuristic concept—it is here, and it’s changing the way we uncover our roots. In our latest episode of the Legacy Tree Podcast, we sat down with genealogy educator Lisa Louise Cooke and senior researcher Kristin Britanik to separate AI fact from fiction.
Efficiency is the New Expertise
The biggest takeaway? AI isn’t a replacement for the genealogist; it’s the ultimate assistant. Kristin shared how a task that once took a week in Excel—comparing 1820 and 1830 census records to find migration patterns—now takes mere minutes with the help of a Large Language Model (LLM).
3 Tips for Using AI in Your Research
Don't Be Too Polite: Surprisingly, research shows you get better results when you are direct and firm with AI. It’s not a friend; it’s a tool. Keep a professional ”guardrail” to remain objective about its outputs.
Verify, Verify, Verify: AI can ”hallucinate” or create plausible-sounding but false information. Always treat AI-generated findings as hints to be verified against primary sources.
Use the ”Magic Wand” for Prompts: Tools like Google Gemini can help you craft better prompts. If you aren't getting what you need, ask the AI: ”How should I rephrase this prompt to get the best genealogy research plan?”
The Human Element Remains
As Lisa noted, the ”thrill of the hunt” is what keeps us coming back. While AI can summarize a 100-page document or create a locality guide, the emotional connection and final proofing remain firmly in human hands.
Ready to break through your brick wall with the latest tech? Work with our team at Legacy Tree Genealogists.
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