The Family History AI Show

This episode is sponsored by the Family History AI Show AcademyBeginning October 27, 2026, Mark and Steve are teaching Advanced Family History AI, the Level II course in their Family History AI series. The course is designed for genealogists with several months of experience using artificial intelligence tools who are ready to move beyond basic prompting to new tools and powerful techniques for researching and telling their family's story.Register for Mark and Steve's classes at:https://tixoom.app/fhaishowDescriptionCo-hosts Mark Thompson and Steve Little report from the East Coast Genetic Genealogy Conference in Boston, where genetic genealogists were adopting artificial intelligence far faster than expected. They then look at Ancestry's AI Stories, which turn a single record into a narrated story about an ancestor, and why the record itself should remain the evidence.The hosts explain why new models solving century-old math problems matter to family historians, as experienced genealogists begin bringing their hardest research problems to these tools, and what the planned retirement of custom GPTs means for researchers who rely on them for their saved prompts.In the Tip of the Week, Mark sets up a scheduled agent that checks Ancestry, MyHeritage, Findmypast, Library and Archives Canada, and other repositories each week for newly released records in the places he researches, and compares how Claude, ChatGPT, and Gemini handle the job.In RapidFire, the hosts cover Claude's memory controls, which can keep one family's research from bleeding into another's, Apple's Gemini-powered Siri, and the calls to slow artificial intelligence development, ending with a reminder that genealogists can already do far more with today's tools than most realize.TimestampsOpening00:06 Family History AI Show Academy: Advanced Family History AI Course01:35 Trends from the East Coast Genetic Genealogy Conference: Adoption Goes Mainstream05:46 Today's Headlines: A Preview of the EpisodeIn the News07:18 New Features at Ancestry: Document Transcription and AI Stories11:18 Artificial Intelligence Model News: Claude Fable 5.1, GPT-6 Astra, and Navier-Stokes20:34 Another Round of Simplification: Claude Merges Chat and Cowork, Custom GPTs RetireTip of the Week30:05 Scheduling Your Artificial Intelligence Agent: Weekly Checks for New Record CollectionsRapidFire42:56 Claude Memory: Editable, Project-Aware, and Worth Checking49:50 Apple's Smarter Siri (Again): Google Gemini Under the Hood54:03 Calls to Slow Down Artificial Intelligence: Separating Real Risks from HeadlinesFinal Thoughts1:16:53 Episode WrapResource LinksFamily History AI Show AcademyAdvanced Family History AI Course Registrationhttps://tixoom.app/fhaishowTrends from the East Coast Genetic Genealogy ConferenceEast Coast Genetic Genealogy Conferencehttps://ecggc.org/New Features at AncestryAncestry Brings Family History to Life with New AI-Powered Storieshttps://www.ancestry.com/c/ancestry-blog/ancestry-news/ancestry-brings-family-history-to-life-with-new-ai-powered-storiBuild Deeper Connections with Ancestry's Redesigned Record Pagehttps://www.ancestry.com/c/ancestry-blog/ancestry-news/redesigned-record-page-fosters-easier-discoveriesThe Science Behind Full-Text Search on Ancestryhttps://www.ancestry.com/c/ancestry-blog/ancestry-news/ancestry-uses-science-and-ai-resources-to-transcribe-historical-documents/Artificial Intelligence Model NewsIntroducing Claude Fable 5.1 and Claude Mythos 5.1https://www.anthropic.com/claude-fable-and-mythos-5-1GPT-6 Astra: A New Generation of Intelligencehttps://openai.com/index/gpt-6-astra/OpenAI on the Navier-Stokes Millennium Prize Problemhttps://openai.com/index/navier-stokes-solution/Another Round of SimplificationClaude Cowork and Chat Are Now One Claudehttps://claude.com/blog/cowork-is-now-claudeCustom GPT Retirement and Migration FAQ: Retirement Planned for December 11, 2026https://help.openai.com/en/articles/20001519-custom-gpt-retirement-and-migration-faqScheduling Your Artificial Intelligence AgentSchedule Recurring Tasks in Claude Coworkhttps://support.claude.com/en/articles/13854387-schedule-recurring-tasks-in-claude-coworkScheduled Tasks in ChatGPThttps://help.openai.com/en/articles/10291617-scheduled-tasks-in-chatgptCreate and Manage Schedules for Tasks in Gemini Sparkhttps://support.google.com/gemini/answer/17094710Claude MemoryUse Claude's Chat Search and Memory to Build on Previous Contexthttps://support.claude.com/en/articles/11817273-use-claude-s-chat-search-and-memory-to-build-on-previous-contextApple's Smarter SiriSiri AI, a Profoundly More Capable and Personal Assistant, Is Herehttps://www.apple.com/newsroom/2026/09/siri-ai-a-profoundly-more-capable-and-personal-assistant-is-here/Calls to Slow Down Artificial IntelligenceDario Amodei: We Must Pace the Frontierhttps://darioamodei.com/post/we-must-pace-the-frontierTagsArtificial Intelligence, Genealogy, Family History, Anthropic, OpenAI, Claude, ChatGPT, Gemini, Ancestry, AI Stories, Scheduled Agents, Custom GPTs, Claude Cowork, AI Memory, Apple Intelligence, Siri, Navier-Stokes, AI Safety, Record Collections, Genetic Genealogy

DescriptionCo-hosts Mark Thompson and Steve Little return from institute season to unpack a summer that reshaped the artificial intelligence landscape, beginning with the new model families from OpenAI and Anthropic and how to choose among them.The hosts then examine desktop artificial intelligence applications, which read and write files directly in a folder on your own computer, followed by Mark’s Tip of the Week on connecting ChatGPT Desktop to Excel to update one of his complex spreadsheets.In RapidFire, the hosts cover the hacking spree that both OpenAI and Anthropic disclosed this summer, models solving mathematical problems that stumped researchers for decades, and handwritten text recognition finally crossing the line into everyday usefulness.The through line in today’s episode is the shrinking list of things artificial intelligence cannot do, and what that might mean for genealogy.This episode is sponsored by the East Coast Genetic Genealogy ConferenceThe East Coast Genetic Genealogy Conference is one of the best places in the world for advanced genetic genealogists to learn how the newest advances in genetic genealogy can improve their family history research. Mark and Steve are both presenting, and the conference begins August 21, 2026, in Boston. In person and online options are both available.https://ecggc.org/TimestampsOpening00:16 East Coast Genetic Genealogy Conference in BostonIn the News03:40 Summer Model Releases: Choosing Between Fast, Cheap, and Good07:54 The Rise of the Desktop Apps: Artificial Intelligence That Reads Your Local FilesTip of the Week16:20 Connecting ChatGPT Desktop to Excel: Rebuilding a Complex SpreadsheetRapidFire25:58 Artificial Intelligence Breaks Out: OpenAI and Anthropic Disclose Sandbox Escapes31:24 Century-Old Math Problems Solved: Why Verifiable Fields Fall First38:03 Handwritten Text Recognition: Transcription Is No Longer the Hard PartFinal Thoughts46:10 Episode Wrap and Boston Send-OffResource LinksEast Coast Genetic Genealogy Conferencehttps://ecggc.org/Summer Model ReleasesUnited States Government Grounds Anthropichttps://www.anthropic.com/news/fable-mythos-accessSol Cheated on Itselfhttps://deploymentsafety.openai.com/gpt-5-6The Rise of the Desktop AppsDownload ChatGPT for Desktophttps://chatgpt.com/download/Install Claude Desktophttps://support.claude.com/en/articles/10065433-install-claude-desktopDownload Google Antigravityhttps://antigravity.google/Artificial Intelligence Solves Century-Old Math ProblemsTen Math Claims, Public Receipts from OpenAIhttps://openai.com/index/ten-advances-in-mathematics/Anthropic Cracked an 87-Year Math Problemhttps://fortune.com/2026/07/21/ai-solves-jacobian-conjecture-levant-alpoge-claude-fable-5/Handwritten Text RecognitionDan Maloney’s Artificial Intelligence Handwriting Transcription Rankingshttps://www.genea.ca/rankings/TagsArtificial Intelligence, Genealogy, Family History, OpenAI, Anthropic, ChatGPT Desktop, Claude Desktop, Google Antigravity, Desktop Applications, Excel, Spreadsheet Automation, Handwriting Recognition, Document Transcription, Gemini, Model Selection, Sandbox Escape, Mathematics, Genetic Genealogy, Dan Maloney, AI Tools

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

Co-hosts Mark Thompson and Steve Little examine the major AI model upgrades released over the winter, comparing Anthropic's Opus 4.6, OpenAI's GPT 5.4, and Google's Gemini 3.1 Pro and their benefits for genealogists.In a special interview recorded at RootsTech 2026, they sit down with Diana Elder and Nicole Dyer of Family Locket to explore how the Research Like a Pro methodology integrates with AI tools for transcription, locality research, and DNA analysis.In RapidFire, they cover FamilySearch's new Simple Search interface for Full-Text Search, Ancestry's AI Stories feature for understanding historical records, and the escalating conflict between Anthropic and the U.S. federal government over the use of AI by the military.Timestamps:In the News:03:12 New AI Model Releases: Opus 4.6, GPT 5.4, and Gemini 3.1 Pro Transform GenealogyInterview19:40 Interview with Diana Elder and Nicole Dyer: Research Like a Pro Meets AIRapidFire:44:05 FamilySearch Simple Search: Natural Language Meets Full-Text Search48:24 Ancestry AI Stories: Understanding Historical Records with AI53:00 Anthropic vs. U.S. Government: AI Ethics Battle Elevates ClaudeResource Links:New ModelsIntroducing GPT5.4https://openai.com/index/introducing-gpt-5-4/Anthropic releases Opus 4.6https://techcrunch.com/2026/02/05/anthropic-releases-opus-4-6-with-new-agent-teams/Anthropic releases Claude Sonnet 4.6https://www.cnbc.com/2026/02/17/anthropic-ai-claude-sonnet-4-6-default-free-pro.htmlGemini 3.1 Prohttps://blog.google/innovation-and-ai/models-and-research/gemini-models/gemini-3-1-pro/Interview with Diana Elder and Nicole Dyer from Family LocketAbout Diana Elder and Nicole Elder Dyerhttps://familylocket.com/about-us/Simple Search for Family Search Full Text SearchHow do I use Fulltext Search?https://www.familysearch.org/en/help/helpcenter/article/how-do-i-use-fulltext-searchAncestry AI StoriesAncestry Brings Family History to Life with New AI-Powered Storieshttps://www.ancestry.ca/corporate/blog/ancestry-brings-family-history-to-life-with-new-ai-powered-storiAnthropic and the U.S. GovernmentTrump orders government to stop using Anthropic in battle over AI usehttps://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cn48jj3y8ezoAnthropic CEO responds to Trump order, Pentagon clashhttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MPTNHrq_4LUTags:Artificial Intelligence, Genealogy, Family History, AI Models, RootsTech, FamilySearch, Ancestry, Claude, ChatGPT, Google Gemini

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