Ancestors and Algorithms: AI for Genealogy
Brian
Key Metrics
About the Show
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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20 of recent episodes transcribed
33 episodes — long track record
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Recent Episodes
S1E28 AI for Genealogy: Italian Ancestor Name Changes - Connected an Ellis Island Immigrant to His Naples Birth Record | Episode 28
He arrived at Ellis Island in 1912 as Salvatore Maranzano. He reappeared in the 1920 Census as Samuel Martin. Eight years of silence in between, and three years of searching by his granddaughter had…
S1E27 AI for Genealogy: AI Tools for African American Genealogy and the 1870 Brick Wall (Ep 27)
For millions of African American families, the search for ancestors hits a wall at 1870. Before that year, the federal census did not list enslaved people by name. They appeared only as ages and…
S1E26 AI for Genealogy + DNA - How to Use Artificial Intelligence Safely for DNA Research | Ep. 26
If you have been sitting on a pile of DNA matches with no idea how to make sense of them, this episode was made for you.Episode 26 of Ancestors and Algorithms tackles one of the most requested topics…
S1E25 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…
S1E24 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…
S1E23 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,…
S1E22 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:…
S1E21 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 RecordsA Union soldier survived three years of brutal Civil War combat, witnessing battles where 30% of his regiment…
S1E20 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…
S1E19 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…
S1E18 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…
S1E17 AI for Genealogy: FamilySearch Full-Text Search - Find Ancestors in 30 Seconds Using AI (2+ Billion Records Unlocked!)
What if you could search through 2+ BILLION genealogy records in 30 seconds instead of spending hours browsing page by page?In this complete tutorial episode, you'll discover FamilySearch Full-Text…
S1E16 AI for Genealogy: FAN Club Method - How to Extract Census Records with AI & Find Missing Relatives
Discover how to use the FAN Club method (Friends, Associates, Neighbors) combined with free AI tools to extract entire census neighborhoods into spreadsheets and find missing relatives. In this…
S1E15 AI for Genealogy: Tracing Your Immigrant Ancestor with AI - Death Certificate to German Church Records
What if you could trace your immigrant ancestor from their American death certificate all the way back to their exact birthplace in the old country—in just six hours? In this complete case study…
S1E14 AI for Genealogy: How to Use AI for DNA Genealogy - Analyze Genetic Matches & Break Through Brick Walls Safely
Staring at hundreds of DNA matches with no idea where to start? Wondering if AI can help solve your genealogy DNA mysteries? In this groundbreaking episode of Ancestors and Algorithms, discover how…
S1E13 AI for Genealogy: AI Hallucinations in Genealogy - How to Prevent False Family History & Control ChatGPT, Claude & Perplexity Errors
Are you using ChatGPT, Claude, Gemini, or Perplexity for genealogy research? AI hallucinations—when artificial intelligence confidently generates false information about your ancestors—represent one…
S1E12 AI for Genealogy: Perplexity AI Complete Guide for Genealogy - Master Every Feature to Break Through Brick Walls in Family History Research
Feeling overwhelmed by Perplexity AI? You're not alone. Most genealogists have heard about this powerful AI research tool but don't know where to start—or they've tried it once, got confused by all…
S1E11 AI for Genealogy: Claude AI for Genealogy - Complete Guide to Research Plans, Artifacts & Writing Ancestor Stories (Free & Pro Plans Explained)
Discover how to use Claude by Anthropic for genealogy research in this comprehensive 40-minute tutorial. Learn to create living research plans with Artifacts, write compelling ancestor biographies,…
S1E10 AI for Genealogy: ChatGPT for Genealogy - Complete AI Family History Research Guide 2025 | Projects, Canvas, Pulse & Deep Research for Ancestor Discovery
Master ChatGPT for genealogy research in 2025! This complete AI family history guide teaches beginners to advanced users how to leverage ChatGPT's powerful features—Projects, Canvas, Pulse, and Deep…
S1E9 AI for Genealogy: Transkribus Complete Guide - From Squiggles to Stories
Conquer Handwriting Transcription with AI: Transkribus Complete Beginner's Guide for GenealogistsFinally decode impossible ancestor handwriting! Join Brian on Ancestors and Algorithms as he conquers…
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