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The Rise of AI for Genealogy: An Overview

Writer's picture: Devon Noel LeeDevon Noel Lee
8 min read

AI generated family tree on computer screen with title of blog post

Artificial intelligence (AI) is transforming genealogy, creating new possibilities for discovering and preserving family history. In this post, we’ll explore the rise of AI in genealogy education, highlight the platforms genealogists are using, and address the challenges they face with this evolving technology.


In July 2023, Thomas MacEntee, of Genealogy Bargains, observed the budding state of AI discussions in genealogy education:


"I really think the topic is very new. I remember when I did one of the first webinars on wearables and QR codes and genealogy—it takes a while. We’re still in the first wave. Remember when we used Netscape before Google or MySpace before Facebook? It’s the second iteration that really takes hold."


Innovation Adoption Lifecycle in AI & Genealogy


Back in the day, I studied marketing at Texas A&M University. One principle was the lifecycle describes how new technologies are embraced, progressing through phases of adoption: innovators, early adopters, early majority, late majority, and laggards.



Back in the day, I studied marketing at Texas A&M University. One principle was the lifecycle describes how new technologies are embraced, progressing through phases of adoption: innovators, early adopters, early majority, late majority, and laggards.


I can’t speak to who the innovators are, but the early adopters of A supporting genealogy research began telling us of the potential long before mainstream attention:


Jarret Ross also talked about the Facial Recognition Aspect of AI technology. He, like me, loves photos, and hopefully, one day, unidentified photos can be identified. I really liked it when he talked about the Civil War


At RootsTech 2023, interest in AI uses in genealogical research was increasing, reminiscent of the rise of DNA testing not that long ago. Anyone including AI in their classes was definitely well received. Here are two videos you can still watch from those days.


Following the conference, many genealogy educators and companies expanded their training on AI. Here are a few highlights.



Artificial Intelligence Is a Misnomer


As genealogists started watching this content, they began discussing and playing with the available language models and tools on the major genealogy platforms. Excitement grew, and so did misunderstandings. This is indicative of the early majority phase of technology adoption. 


One of the challenges faced by the early majority is the confusion that can enter the field. I harken back to a warning that Thomas MacEntee shared with Andy a few years ago. 


"When we say 'artificial intelligence,' it’s a total misnomer. It’s not intelligence—it’s advanced information processing. AI can suggest connections between researchers, but it doesn’t think independently. The media’s bias exaggerates its dangers, conjuring 'Terminator'-like fears."


In short, genealogists have been using AI without realizing it. So, the real task is understanding AI's strengths and limitations as they pertain to genealogical research.

An example of not truly understanding the capabilities of AI was the video I made using ChatGPT to write family histories. I tried to leverage what I learned from innovators and early adopters, and things didn’t go too well.


As I’ve come to see the power of AI, I’ve started incorporating ChatGPT in my Writing Challenges on the Write Your Family History Channel and played with Kindex to transcribe my old journals, among other things. 


While some may say that means I shouldn’t make videos when I don’t know what I’m talking about. The real thing this demonstrates is that we were in the early adopter phase of accepting AI as part of genealogy research. Since then, more clarity in the form of training and tutorials has come along, and hopefully, we’ll all be learning together. 


2024 Was the Year Numerous Genealogists Experimented with AI


In 2024, RootsTech  AI integration had permeated nearly every session: 


The remainder of 2024 saw a surge in genealogy education, with blogs, conferences, and YouTube channels offering diverse content on AI tools and techniques.



A few podcasts worth checking out are the following:



The growing interest indicates a maturing landscape filled with exciting resources for genealogists.


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Platforms Genealogists Are Using


With all the education available, I’ve wondered what platforms genealogists use to build their family trees and capture their legacy. The following list highlights some of the tools and how these tools are being used.



Apparently, many of these platforms simplify tasks like transcription, translation, and content creation, allowing genealogists to focus on interpreting data rather than merely processing it.


I have played with ChatGPT, Bing’s Co-Pilot, Claude, Storied’s Story Assist, Google Translate, Kindex, and Cava. I wouldn’t dare profess expertise in these, but I’m learning.

I’d love to know what platforms you’re using and what successes or challenges you’re having. Perhaps we can discuss some of these AI tools in future posts.


Challenges Genealogists Face with AI


As I wrap up this post, I’m reminded of Andy and Thomas's conversation about the challenges we face as genealogists who try to leverage AI tools to make our lives easier.


In a conversation with Andy and MacEntee, we highlighted key issues:

  • AI can generate plausible but incorrect data—as seen in a court case where ChatGPT invented legal cases, leading to sanctions.

  • Reliability and sourcing are critical. Genealogists must verify AI-generated information using credible references.

  • Misleading or biased content remains a concern. Users must understand AI’s limitations and refine their prompts to avoid inaccuracies.



Welcome to the Age of AI in Genealogy Research


I suspect 2025 will offer even more training and tools to help us implement AI into our tree-building and preservation efforts. I’m particularly excited about a new YouTube channel called “Family History on the AI Fast Track.” If you haven't discovered it already, I’ll share a link to it. So far, I’m really learning a lot.


Also, I noticed that Legacy Tree Webinars have introduced an AI series for members only. I don’t yet know enough about that, but it’s an exciting time in genealogy research.

In the coming years, we will likely use more tools that leverage this technology without our knowledge. In other cases, we will intentionally utilize various platforms. We’ll make mistakes, but hopefully, we’ll collaborate to learn together.


I’m looking forward to exploring more tools and sharing what I learn along the way. Again, let me know what you’re learning, your concerns, or what topics I should cover in future posts. Let’s have fun together because if family history isn’t fun, we’re doing it wrong.


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