Ancestors and Algorithms: AI for Genealogy

Brian
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  • SOCIETY & CULTURE

Stuck on a family history brick wall? It's time to add the most powerful tool to your genealogy toolkit: Artificial Intelligence. Welcome to Ancestors and Algorithms, the definitive guide to revolutionizing your family tree research with AI. Forget the hype and confusion. This isn't just another podcast about AI; this is your hands-on, step-by-step masterclass using AI. Each week, host and researcher Brian demystifies the technology and shows you exactly how to apply AI tools to find ancestors, analyze records, and solve your toughest genealogy puzzles. We explore the incredible promise of AI while navigating its perils with an honest, practical approach. Learn to use AI as your personal research assistant—not a replacement for your own critical thinking. Join us to learn how to: Break through brick walls using AI-driven analysis and data correlation.Transcribe old, hard-to-read documents, letters, and census records in minutes.Use ChatGPT, Gemini, and other Generative AI to draft biographies, summarize findings, and organize your research.Analyze DNA matches and historical records to uncover hidden family connections.Master prompts that get you accurate results and avoid AI "hallucinations."Discover the latest AI tech and digital tools for genealogists before anyone else.Whether you're a beginner genealogist or a seasoned family historian, if you're ready to upgrade your research skills, this podcast is for you. Hit Follow now and turn AI into your ultimate secret weapon for uncovering your ancestry.

  1. 18 HR AGO

    AI for Genealogy: Tracking Australian Ancestors Using AI [International Genealogy Research] (Episode 25)

    Discover how to find Australian convict ancestors and track family across international borders using free AI tools. Perfect for genealogists researching British, Irish, Scottish, or Australian family history. What You'll Learn: Track transported convicts from Britain to Australia (1788-1868) using AI-powered research techniques that work for ANY international genealogy challenge, German ancestors to Brazil, Irish to Canada, Italian to Argentina, or Scots to New Zealand. Featured Case Study: A London weaver convicted of theft in 1832 disappears from British records. Using three free AI tools, we uncover his complete Australian life: ticket of leave, marriage to a free settler's daughter, four children, land grant, and burial in Bathurst. Plus, how DNA testing revealed American cousins who never knew their Australian family existed. Free AI Tools Demonstrated: Perplexity - Research foreign record systems with citations (Australian convict terminology, record types, repositories)Claude - Analyze multiple historical documents, create timelines, identify discrepancies across convict indents, tickets of leave, certificates of freedomGemini AI Studio - Transcribe handwritten 1800s documents with 98% accuracy (NOT the Gemini app, critical difference explained)NotebookLM - Create shareable infographics, audio overviews, and visual family storiesWhy This Matters for American Genealogists: 162,000 convicts transported to Australia left families in Britain who became American families. If your British/Irish ancestor "vanished" 1788-1868, they may be in Australian convict databases. Learn the exact records to search: convict indents, tickets of leave, certificates of freedom, New South Wales marriage/death indexes, land grants, and cemetery records. Key Australian Resources: State Library of New South Wales, National Archives of Australia, FamilySearch (free), TROVE newspaper archive, Colonial Secretary correspondence, church records, and DNA matching strategies for Australian cousins. Cross-Border Research Methodology: Step-by-step framework for researching ancestors who crossed international borders. Understand destination country record systems, bridge terminology gaps (British "transport" vs Australian "ticket of leave"), locate digitized records, verify with primary sources, and maintain genealogical proof standards throughout AI-assisted research. Perfect For: Genealogists researching British Empire migrations, convict ancestry, DNA mystery matches, international record searches, or anyone with ancestors who crossed borders 1700s-1900s. Free Resources Mentioned: FamilySearch, Ancestry (discussed), State Library of NSW digitized collections, National Archives of Australia searchable databases, TROVE, Google AI Studio (free), Claude.ai (free tier), Perplexity (free tier), NotebookLM (free). Keywords: Australian convict records, genealogy AI, British family history, international genealogy, DNA matches Australia, free genealogy tools, transportation records, New South Wales records, FamilySearch, Ancestry research, convict ancestors, AI genealogy research, family history podcast Connect with Ancestors and Algorithms: 📧 Email: ancestorsandai@gmail.com 🌐 Website: https://ancestorsandai.com/ 📘 Facebook Group: Ancestors and Algorithms: AI for Genealogy - www.facebook.com/groups/ancestorsandalgorithms/ Golden Rule Reminder: AI is your research assistant, not your researcher. Join our Facebook group to share your AI genealogy breakthroughs, ask questions, and connect with fellow family historians who are embracing the future of genealogy research! New episodes every Tuesday. Subscribe so you never miss the latest AI tools and techniques for family history research.

    34 min

  2. 3 FEB

    AI for Genealogy: How to Use Google NotebookLM for Family History Research - Free AI Tool Tutorial (Episode 24)

    Have you ever stared at a stack of genealogy documents knowing the answers are there, but unable to find them? That was me with a 47-page probate file from 1892. Three years I avoided it. Then I discovered Google NotebookLM, and twenty minutes later, I finally understood why two of my ancestors never spoke again. In this episode, I'm teaching you everything about NotebookLM for genealogy research, what it is, how it works, and why it's fundamentally different from ChatGPT or other AI tools you've tried. The key difference: NotebookLM only knows what YOU give it. Upload your census records, probate files, and research notes, and it becomes an expert on YOUR family. Every answer includes citations back to YOUR documents. No hallucinations. No made-up ancestors. What you'll learn: → How NotebookLM differs from ChatGPT and Claude for genealogy  → The generous free tier that's enough for most family historians → Step-by-step setup for your first genealogy notebook  → The Comparison Query that catches errors across census records  → Gap Analysis for smarter research planning  → How to map your ancestor's social network (FAN club)  → Creating Audio Overviews your family will actually listen to  → Generating infographics and slide decks from your research  → Copy-paste prompts you can use immediately Featured prompts in this episode: Basic Summary prompt for quick document analysisComparison Query for finding inconsistenciesGap Analysis for identifying missing recordsRelationship Mapper for FAN club researchNarrative Generator for writing ancestor biographiesWhether you're struggling with complex legal documents, trying to compare records across decades, or looking for new ways to share family history with relatives who won't read documents—this episode has practical techniques you can use today. Resources mentioned: Google NotebookLM: notebooklm.google.com (free) #GoogleNotebookLM #GenealogyAI #AIGenealogy #FamilyHistoryResearch #GenealogyPodcast #NotebookLM #GenealogyTools #FamilyTreeResearch #AIResearch #GenealogyTips Connect with Ancestors and Algorithms: 📧 Email: ancestorsandai@gmail.com 🌐 Website: https://ancestorsandai.com/ 📘 Facebook Group: Ancestors and Algorithms: AI for Genealogy - www.facebook.com/groups/ancestorsandalgorithms/ Golden Rule Reminder: AI is your research assistant, not your researcher. Join our Facebook group to share your AI genealogy breakthroughs, ask questions, and connect with fellow family historians who are embracing the future of genealogy research! New episodes every Tuesday. Subscribe so you never miss the latest AI tools and techniques for family history research.

    32 min

  3. 27 JAN

    AI for Genealogy: Writing Ancestor Biographies with AI - Free ChatGPT Tutorial (Episode 23)

    Learn how to transform dry genealogy facts into compelling ancestor biographies using free AI tools. This complete AI writing tutorial teaches genealogists step-by-step how to use Claude, Perplexity, and ChatGPT to create family histories people actually want to read—without inventing a single fact. What You'll Learn: In this 35-minute genealogy AI workshop, discover the three-part system for writing ancestor biographies that makes family members ask for printed copies. Brian walks through the exact process used to turn boring timelines into emotional narratives that honor ancestors while maintaining genealogical proof standards. Complete Example Walkthrough: Follow the real example of Catherine Schmidt (1848-1921), a Bavarian immigrant who came to America alone at age 20, raised eight children, and survived 29 years of widowhood running a boarding house. See how the same verified facts transformed from a boring timeline into a biography that made family members cry and request copies. You'll Get Word-for-Word Prompts For: Organizing genealogy research with AI assistanceResearching historical context with citationsWriting biographies that stay 100% factualHandling different writing tones (conversational vs. scholarly)Avoiding common AI writing mistakesMaintaining genealogical proof standards throughoutAdvanced Techniques Included: Multiple perspective writing for different emphasesComparative context analysisVoice and vocabulary matching for time periodsFamily context mapping across generationsHow to iterate and refine AI-generated contentCommon Pitfalls to Avoid: Learn the five biggest mistakes genealogists make when using AI for writing, including letting AI add "color," ignoring uncomfortable facts, over-polishing, forgetting source citations, and accepting first drafts. Get strategies for preventing each mistake before it happens. Why This Episode Matters: Most genealogists are excellent researchers but struggle to communicate findings in ways that engage family members. Research sits in drawers unread because it's presented as reports, not stories. This episode solves that problem using completely free AI tools that work as writing assistants—not as researchers inventing facts. Who This Is For: Genealogists frustrated that family doesn't read their researchFamily historians with facts but no writing confidenceResearchers wanting to share findings more effectivelyAnyone who's spent years researching but can't make it interestingBeginners intimidated by "writing up" their family historyFree Tools Used: Claude.ai, Perplexity.ai, ChatGPT (all free tiers work perfectly) All prompts available in the free Facebook group: "Ancestors and Algorithms: AI for Genealogy" Tags: #GenealogyWriting #AIForGenealogy #FamilyHistory #AncestorBiographies #FreeAITools #ChatGPT #Claude #Perplexity #GenealogyResearch #WritingTips Connect with Ancestors and Algorithms: 📧 Email: ancestorsandai@gmail.com 🌐 Website: https://ancestorsandai.com/ 📘 Facebook Group: Ancestors and Algorithms: AI for Genealogy - www.facebook.com/groups/ancestorsandalgorithms/ Golden Rule Reminder: AI is your research assistant, not your researcher. Join our Facebook group to share your AI genealogy breakthroughs, ask questions, and connect with fellow family historians who are embracing the future of genealogy research! New episodes every Tuesday. Subscribe so you never miss the latest AI tools and techniques for family history research.

    35 min

  4. 20 JAN

    AI for Genealogy: Solving Multiple Same-Name Ancestors in English Parish Records Using AI | UK Genealogy

    Three John Smiths. Same parish. Same occupation. All married to women named Mary. Which one is YOUR ancestor? If you research English or UK family history, you've hit this genealogy brick wall: multiple people with identical names in the same small community, and parish registers giving you almost nothing to tell them apart. This episode shows you exactly how to solve this using AI tools. THE CHALLENGE: I tackle one of the most common English genealogy problems, distinguishing between three John Smiths in Market Rasen parish, Lincolnshire, England, 1790-1850. All agricultural laborers. All married women named Mary. Parish registers offered minimal detail. Traditional cluster genealogy methods weren't revealing the patterns I needed. THE AI SOLUTION: Learn how Claude AI and Perplexity became invaluable research assistants in untangling this knot. I'll show you the exact prompts and complete workflow: Organizing with Claude: Upload transcribed parish entries and create comparison tables that reveal subtle differences you've been missingHistorical context with Perplexity: Research 19th-century naming patterns, social class distinctions (farmer vs. agricultural laborer), migration patterns—with citationsPattern recognition: AI identifies witness patterns, naming traditions, and generational differences across baptism, marriage, and burial recordsFAN Club principle with AI: Map Friends, Associates, and Neighbors relationships to spot family connectionsDead ends and pivots: Real examples of AI theories that failed—and why verification mattersENGLISH GENEALOGY ESSENTIALS: Parish registers vs. civil registration (1837 cutoff)Bishop's Transcripts and when they're usefulFamilySearch, FreeBMD, FreeREG (all free!)Social class distinctions in 19th-century EnglandFarmers vs. agricultural laborersNaming patterns: deceased children and name reuseAI TECHNIQUES YOU'LL LEARN:  ✓ Five copy-paste prompts for parish record analysis  ✓ Timeline comparisons using Claude  ✓ When to use Perplexity vs. Claude  ✓ Document comparison for handwritten records  ✓ Verifying AI suggestions against primary sources  ✓ Organizing complex family relationships WHO THIS HELPS: Genealogists researching English, Scottish, Welsh, Irish ancestorsAnyone with same-name ancestors in small communitiesParish registers and church records researchersFamily historians integrating AI into workflowBeginners and experienced genealogistsRESOURCES: All prompts and free tools at ancestorsandai.com Whether researching Market Rasen, Manchester, or anywhere in the UK, these AI techniques work for any same-name genealogy challenge. International researchers can adapt these methods too. Connect with Ancestors and Algorithms: 📧 Email: ancestorsandai@gmail.com 🌐 Website: https://ancestorsandai.com/ 📘 Facebook Group: Ancestors and Algorithms: AI for Genealogy - www.facebook.com/groups/ancestorsandalgorithms/ Golden Rule Reminder: AI is your research assistant, not your researcher. Join our Facebook group to share your AI genealogy breakthroughs, ask questions, and connect with fellow family historians who are embracing the future of genealogy research! New episodes every Tuesday. Subscribe so you never miss the latest AI tools and techniques for family history research.

    26 min

  5. 6 JAN

    AI for Genealogy: How AI Uncovered a Civil War Soldier's PTSD | Free Transcription & Research Tools for Military Genealogy

    The Soldier Who Came Home Different: Using Free AI to Uncover PTSD in Civil War Records A Union soldier survived three years of brutal Civil War combat, witnessing battles where 30% of his regiment was killed or wounded. He came home physically unscathed. But something broke inside. His hands trembled. Thunder sent him into hiding. He woke screaming from battle nightmares. His wife said, "He's not the boy I married in 1861." In 1884, he applied for a disability pension. Doctors documented "irritable heart," "nervous prostration," "tremor of hands." The pension bureau denied his claim. No visible wounds = no disability. Until I used three FREE AI tools to uncover what 19th-century medicine couldn't diagnose: PTSD, documented, verifiable, heartbreaking. In This Episode, You'll Learn: ✅ How to use Perplexity (FREE) to research military unit histories in 60 seconds with citations  ✅ How to use Gemini 3 (FREE via Google AI Studio) to transcribe 19th-century handwriting with under 2% error rate  ✅ How to use Claude (FREE tier) to analyze pension documents and spot trauma patterns doctors missed  ✅ The exact verification workflow to confirm AI insights (genealogical proof standards matter!)  ✅ Why some Civil War pensions were denied and later approved, the 1890 law that changed everything  ✅ How to recognize PTSD, depression, and anxiety in military records across ALL wars These techniques work for ANY military ancestor: Civil War pension filesWWI draft cards and service recordsWWII discharge papers and unit historiesKorea and Vietnam era documentsRevolutionary War applicationsAny war, any era, any handwritten military documentWhat Makes This Episode Different: This isn't just Civil War research, it's about understanding the invisible wounds our military ancestors carried home and finally having the tools to honor their full stories. You'll get copy-paste ready prompts for all three AI tools (Perplexity, Claude, Gemini 3), verification checklists, and a complete multi-tool workflow that saves hours of research time. Every tool featured has a FREE tier. No expensive subscriptions required. Featured Story: Private Daniel Hartley, 6th West Virginia Infantry, survived Cloyd's Mountain where his friend James Keener died in his arms. For 20 years, his community questioned whether his suffering was real because they couldn't see a wound. AI helped me find his voice, verify his testimony, and understand his trauma. Join Our Community: Get all the AI prompts, tools guides, and research support in our FREE Facebook group "Ancestors and Algorithms: AI for Genealogy" (800+ members helping each other break down brick walls) Resources Mentioned: Perplexity.ai (free research with citations)Claude.ai (free document analysis)Google AI Studio at aistudio.google.com (free transcription)National Archives Civil War recordsVerification workflow checklistConnect with Ancestors and Algorithms: 📧 Email: ancestorsandai@gmail.com 🌐 Website: https://ancestorsandai.com/ 📘 Facebook Group: Ancestors and Algorithms: AI for Genealogy - www.facebook.com/groups/ancestorsandalgorithms/ Golden Rule Reminder: AI is your research assistant, not your researcher. Join our Facebook group to share your AI genealogy breakthroughs, ask questions, and connect with fellow family historians who are embracing the future of genealogy research! New episodes every Tuesday. Subscribe so you never miss the latest AI tools and techniques for family history research.

    23 min

  6. 30/12/2025

    AI for Genealogy: How to Transcribe Handwritten Genealogy Documents with Free AI - Gemini 3 Tutorial

    Struggling to read your ancestor's handwriting? Spent hours squinting at impossible cursive in Civil War pension files, wills, letters, or family Bible records? Google's new Gemini 3 AI achieves expert-level handwriting transcription at 1.67% error rate—and it's completely free. In this comprehensive 35-minute tutorial, discover how to transcribe historical handwritten documents in minutes instead of hours. Learn the exact step-by-step process for accessing Google AI Studio, the precise prompts that get optimal results, and when verification matters for genealogical proof standards. WHAT YOU'LL LEARN: How to access Google AI Studio for free (no credit card, no subscription required) • The difference between Gemini app vs AI Studio and why it matters  • Copy-paste ready prompts for pension records, wills, deeds, letters, and Bible records  • Real examples: transcribing Civil War documents, immigrant letters, damaged death certificates, and legal land deeds  • Advanced techniques for faded, water-damaged, or torn documents  • Multilingual transcription (German, French, Spanish, even Russian)  • The two-pass verification method for critical documents  • When and how to verify AI transcriptions for genealogical research  • Integration strategies for your family history workflow DOCUMENT TYPES COVERED: • Civil War pension applications  • Revolutionary War service records  • Immigration and naturalization documents  • Wills and probate records  • Land deeds and property transfers  • Personal correspondence and family letters  • Death certificates and vital records  • Family Bible records  • Census records and official forms  • Court documents and legal proceedings WHY GEMINI 3 IS DIFFERENT: Gemini 3 achieves 1.67% character error rate compared to ChatGPT's 17% and Claude's 4%. That's expert human transcriptionist accuracy. It understands historical context, shows its reasoning for difficult words, and handles 18th and 19th-century handwriting styles that other AI tools struggle with. REAL-WORLD BREAKTHROUGH: Brian shares how he transcribed a 43-page Civil War pension file in 20 minutes—work that would have taken 80-100 hours manually. Every word accurate, preserving original spelling and grammar for genealogical standards. HOMEWORK CHALLENGE: Try the #GeminiBreakthrough challenge: Find one handwritten document you've been avoiding, upload it to Google AI Studio, and share your results at ancestorsandai@gmail.com KEYWORDS: genealogy AI tools, handwriting transcription, historical documents, Civil War records, pension files, family history research, Google Gemini, free genealogy tools, old cursive handwriting, paleography, document transcription, ancestry research, family tree research Connect with Ancestors and Algorithms: 📧 Email: ancestorsandai@gmail.com 🌐 Website: https://ancestorsandai.com/ 📘 Facebook Group: Ancestors and Algorithms: AI for Genealogy - www.facebook.com/groups/ancestorsandalgorithms/ Golden Rule Reminder: AI is your research assistant, not your researcher. Join our Facebook group to share your AI genealogy breakthroughs, ask questions, and connect with fellow family historians who are embracing the future of genealogy research! New episodes every Tuesday. Subscribe so you never miss the latest AI tools and techniques for family history research.

    37 min

  7. 16/12/2025

    AI for Genealogy: AI Signature Analysis Uncovers Identity Theft - Polish Immigrant Mystery Case Study

    Discover how AI signature analysis solved a 120-year-old genealogy mystery involving identity theft, mining deaths, and desperate immigrants in Pennsylvania coal country. This complete tutorial demonstrates using free AI tools—Gemini, Claude, Perplexity, and ChatGPT—to analyze handwriting, compare documents, and uncover hidden family secrets. THE MYSTERY: Two property deeds, same name, same land—but completely different signatures. One showed educated European penmanship, the other barely literate scrawl. Were these signed by the same person? AI revealed the shocking truth: identity substitution after a tragic mining death. WHAT YOU'LL LEARN: AI Signature Analysis: Use Gemini's free image analysis to objectively compare handwriting across documents. Get exact prompts for analyzing letter formation, pen pressure, and writing systems that distinguish one person from another. Document Pattern Recognition: Learn Claude's powerful chronological analysis technique to spot identity transitions, witness changes, and gaps in the documentary record that reveal when someone assumed a new identity. Historical Context Research: Master Perplexity's citation-backed research to understand why immigrants changed identities—mining accidents, unreported deaths, "paper sons," and substitute identities in early 1900s America. Theory Generation: Use ChatGPT to systematically generate and evaluate multiple explanations for genealogical mysteries, avoiding tunnel vision and confirmation bias. TECHNIQUES DEMONSTRATED: ✓ Free-tier AI tools only (Gemini, Claude, ChatGPT, Perplexity) ✓ Copy-paste ready prompts for immediate use ✓ Multi-tool workflow combining signature analysis, document comparison, and historical research ✓ Primary source verification methods ✓ Advanced genealogy proof standards with AI assistance REAL GENEALOGY CASE STUDY: Follow the investigation of Jan Kowalski, Polish immigrant who purchased Pennsylvania farmland in 1897—then "sold" it in 1902 with a completely different signature. AI tools revealed coroner reports, mining accident records, and boarding house keeper documentation proving the original Jan died in 1901, and another immigrant assumed his identity to claim naturalization papers and property. WHO THIS EPISODE IS FOR: → Genealogists with signature mysteries across multiple documents → Family historians comparing handwriting to determine if records match the same person → Researchers investigating immigrant identity changes, name variations, or missing relatives → Anyone stuck on brick walls where records don't align logically → Beginners wanting step-by-step AI genealogy workflows HOMEWORK ASSIGNMENT: Compare signatures for one of your ancestors across multiple documents using the free Gemini analysis technique demonstrated in this episode. KEYWORDS: AI genealogy, signature analysis, handwriting comparison, ChatGPT genealogy, Claude AI family history, Gemini genealogy tools, Perplexity research, immigrant identity theft, Polish genealogy, naturalization records analysis, genealogy AI tools, family history chatbots, AI document analysis, genealogy brick walls Connect with Ancestors and Algorithms: 📧 Email: ancestorsandai@gmail.com 🌐 Website: https://ancestorsandai.com/ 📘 Facebook Group: Ancestors and Algorithms: AI for Genealogy - www.facebook.com/groups/ancestorsandalgorithms/ Golden Rule Reminder: AI is your research assistant, not your researcher. Join our Facebook group to share your AI genealogy breakthroughs, ask questions, and connect with fellow family historians who are embracing the future of genealogy research! New episodes every Tuesday. Subscribe so you never miss the latest AI tools and techniques for family history research.

    35 min

  8. 09/12/2025

    AI for Genealogy: Civil War Widow Denied - AI Uncovers Heartbreaking Pension Files

    She had six children, a 33-year marriage, and witnesses who knew her as Mrs. Hoffman. So why couldn't this Civil War widow prove she was married? In this heartbreaking case study, we dive into a 173-page pension file that reveals how one missing piece of paper destroyed a family—and how FREE AI tools helped me uncover the devastating truth behind rejected widow pension applications. What You'll Discover in This Episode: ✅ The Shocking Reality of Civil War Pensions - Why thousands of widows were denied benefits despite being legally entitled (this will make you angry) ✅ AI Handwriting Transcription That Actually Works - I'll show you the exact FREE tool that transcribed desperate letters written in shaky pencil on cheap paper—Catherine's own words: "My children are hungry" ✅ Free Legal Research at Your Fingertips - Learn how Perplexity helped me understand complex 1890s pension laws in 15 seconds (no law degree required) ✅ Multi-Document Analysis Like a Pro - Watch Claude compare witness statements, legal documents, and official records to spot exactly what the pension examiner would have seen ✅ The Church Fire That Changed Everything - How destroyed records created an impossible bureaucratic nightmare (and why this happened to thousands of families) Copy-Paste Ready Prompts Included: Every AI technique demonstrated with exact prompts you can use today on your own genealogy research—all with 100% FREE tools (no subscriptions needed) The Unresolved Mystery: Catherine Hoffman never got her pension. After her husband Samuel survived three years of Civil War combat, she spent 24 years dependent on her children. The farm was sold for unpaid taxes. But there's a fourth application mentioned in the file that I CAN'T FIND...and I need your help. Perfect For: Family historians researching Civil War ancestorsAnyone stuck with rejected applications (pension, land, citizenship)Genealogists who want to use AI ethically and effectivelyResearchers dealing with destroyed church records or missing documentsAnyone who's ever hit a brick wall with bureaucratic requirementsAI Tools Featured (All FREE): Perplexity (5 searches/day free tier)Gemini via Google AI Studio (completely free)Claude (generous free tier)What Makes This Episode Different: This isn't just another genealogy tutorial. It's a real mystery with emotional stakes, showing you techniques that work on ANY rejected application—pension, land claim, citizenship, you name it. Plus, you'll learn why verification matters just as much as discovery (Golden Rule: AI is your research assistant, not your researcher). Keywords: Civil War genealogy, widow pension research, AI genealogy tools, handwriting transcription free, genealogy brick wall, Pennsylvania German ancestors, destroyed church records, rejected pension application, genealogy case study, family history research, AI for genealogy, Civil War pension files, genealogy podcast 2025 Connect with Ancestors and Algorithms: 📧 Email: ancestorsandai@gmail.com 🌐 Website: https://ancestorsandai.com/ 📘 Facebook Group: Ancestors and Algorithms: AI for Genealogy - www.facebook.com/groups/ancestorsandalgorithms/ Golden Rule Reminder: AI is your research assistant, not your researcher. Join our Facebook group to share your AI genealogy breakthroughs, ask questions, and connect with fellow family historians who are embracing the future of genealogy research! New episodes every Tuesday. Subscribe so you never miss the latest AI tools and techniques for family history research.

    38 min
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Stuck on a family history brick wall? It's time to add the most powerful tool to your genealogy toolkit: Artificial Intelligence. Welcome to Ancestors and Algorithms, the definitive guide to revolutionizing your family tree research with AI. Forget the hype and confusion. This isn't just another podcast about AI; this is your hands-on, step-by-step masterclass using AI. Each week, host and researcher Brian demystifies the technology and shows you exactly how to apply AI tools to find ancestors, analyze records, and solve your toughest genealogy puzzles. We explore the incredible promise of AI while navigating its perils with an honest, practical approach. Learn to use AI as your personal research assistant—not a replacement for your own critical thinking. Join us to learn how to: Break through brick walls using AI-driven analysis and data correlation.Transcribe old, hard-to-read documents, letters, and census records in minutes.Use ChatGPT, Gemini, and other Generative AI to draft biographies, summarize findings, and organize your research.Analyze DNA matches and historical records to uncover hidden family connections.Master prompts that get you accurate results and avoid AI "hallucinations."Discover the latest AI tech and digital tools for genealogists before anyone else.Whether you're a beginner genealogist or a seasoned family historian, if you're ready to upgrade your research skills, this podcast is for you. Hit Follow now and turn AI into your ultimate secret weapon for uncovering your ancestry.

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