Ancestors and Algorithms: AI for Genealogy
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.
Episodes
36 episodes
Ep. 31: The Homestead Claim That Vanished | AI-Assisted Homestead and Land Record Research
Ep. 30: ChatGPT, Perplexity, Claude & NotebookLM Meet the Genealogical Proof Standard
Ep. 29: How to Find Ancestors in Historical Newspapers Using AI
Ep. 28: Italian Ancestor Name Changes | Connected an Ellis Island Immigrant to His Naples Birth Record
Ep. 27: AI Tools for African American Genealogy and the 1870 Brick Wall
Ep. 26: Genealogy + DNA | How to Use Artificial Intelligence Safely for DNA Research
Ep. 25:: Tracking Australian Ancestors Using AI | International Genealogy Research
Ep. 24: How to Use Google NotebookLM for Family History Research | Free AI Tool Tutorial
Ep. 23: Writing Ancestor Biographies with AI | Free ChatGPT Tutorial
Ep. 22: Solving Multiple Same-Name Ancestors in English Parish Records Using AI | UK Genealogy
Ep. 21: How AI Uncovered a Civil War Soldier's PTSD | Free Transcription & Research Tools for Military Genealogy
Ep. 20: How to Transcribe Handwritten Genealogy Documents with Free AI | Gemini 3 Tutorial
Ep. 19: AI Signature Analysis Uncovers Identity Theft - Polish Immigrant Mystery Case Study
Ep. 18: Civil War Widow Denied | AI Uncovers Heartbreaking Pension Files
Ep. 17: FamilySearch Full-Text Search | Find Ancestors in 30 Seconds Using AI (2+ Billion Records Unlocked!)
Ep. 16: FAN Club Method | How to Extract Census Records with AI & Find Missing Relatives
Ep. 15: Tracing Your Immigrant Ancestor with AI | Death Certificate to German Church Records
Ep. 14: How to Use AI for DNA Genealogy | Analyze Genetic Matches & Break Through Brick Walls Safely
Ep 13: AI Hallucinations in Genealogy | How to Prevent False Family History & Control ChatGPT, Claude & Perplexity Errors
Ep. 12: Perplexity AI Complete Guide for Genealogy | Master Every Feature to Break Through Brick Walls in Family History Research
Ep. 11: Claude AI for Genealogy | Complete Guide to Research Plans, Artifacts & Writing Ancestor Stories
Ep. 10: ChatGPT for Genealogy | Complete AI Family History Research Guide 2025 | Projects, Canvas, Pulse & Deep Research for Ancestor Discovery
Ep. 9: Transkribus Complete Guide | From Squiggles to Stories
AI for Genealogy: How to Spot Hidden Family Tree Patterns That Solve Brick Walls
AI for Genealogy: When AI Gets Your Family History Wrong