What is AI and what are its current applications in genealogy research?
Genealogy Meets AI: How Artificial Intelligence is Revolutionizing Family History Research
Genealogy and family history research has come a long way in recent years. What was once slow, tedious work combing through paper records and microfilm is now done with a few clicks thanks to digitization and online databases. But some aspects of piecing together your family tree can still be time-consuming even in the digital age. This is where artificial intelligence (AI) comes in.
AI is transforming many industries, and genealogy is no exception. New AI capabilities are able to automate certain repetitive research tasks and uncover connections in large datasets far faster than any human could. Here are some of the key ways AI is already assisting both professional and hobbyist genealogists:
- Handwriting recognition: AI can now digitize and transcribe handwritten records like census forms and birth/marriage/death certificates quickly and accurately. This makes searching and finding ancestors in these documents much easier.
- Record linking: Billions of historical records have been digitized but aren't yet indexed or linked together. AI can identify when two records are referring to the same person and connect them. This provides a more complete picture of an ancestor.
- Relationship prediction: By analyzing family trees, AI can make predictions about how individuals may be related and where gaps likely exist. This provides clues for where to focus research efforts.
- Photo facial recognition: Historic photos often aren't labeled, making identifying ancestors difficult. Facial recognition AI can find potential matches and links between unidentified subjects.
- Migration mapping: Mapping migration patterns and historical events provides context. AI can synthesize data to visualize ancestors' geographical paths over time.
- Cousin finding: DNA testing provides lists of genetic matches, but it takes work to figure out exactly how you're related. AI matching algorithms can predict cousin relationships.
While AI is not a magic solution that will instantly complete your family tree, it does have the potential to significantly accelerate genealogy research. As these capabilities improve, AI looks set to become an indispensable tool for both casual and professional ancestry sleuths. The future looks bright for those uncovering their past with a little help from artificial intelligence.
