Speaking

I am a frequent speaker on topics related to AI and genealogy, giving talks at genealogical conferences, webinars, workshops, etc.

Here is a list of my current AI-related talks. (You can find my other talks, on more traditional genealogical topics on my genealogy website here.)

ChatGPT for Genealogists

Explore how ChatGPT, the latest breakthrough in artificial intelligence, can become a powerful ally in your genealogical research. After a quick introduction to how this tool works, we’ll dive into a series of hands-on examples that showcase the full range of its capabilities. From providing rich historical context and suggesting source material to interpreting images, translating records, generating content, and extracting information from PDFs, ChatGPT can tackle an impressive variety of tasks. Join us to see how AI can revolutionize your research, saving you time and revealing new insights in unexpected ways.

ChatGPT for Genealogists: Beyond the Basics

A second-level class for those who have some experience with using ChatGPT and want to take it to the next level. We’ll look at Projects, Memory, Deep Research, Apps, Agent mode, Custom GPTs, and learn what causes hallucinations and how they can be avoided.

Note: The first ChatGPT for Genealogists talk, the Beyond the Basics talk, and any one of the image-oriented AI classes below can make a nice trio of talks for a one-day conference. And the two ChatGPT talks together can be delivered as a workshop.

NotebookLM for Genealogists

Dive into the world of NotebookLM, Google’s “personal AI-based research assistant,” and discover how it can supercharge your genealogical research. Imagine having an assistant that not only organizes your notes, books, journal articles, and original records but also helps you make connections and draw insights from them. In this session, we’ll explore how to maximize the productivity boost from NotebookLM, turning complex data into clear stories and actionable discoveries. Whether you’re managing stacks of family records or sifting through historical documents, NotebookLM could be the tool that transforms your research journey.

Artificial Intelligence for Genealogists: The Best of What’s Available Today

Step into the future of genealogy with a discussion and demonstration of today’s most powerful AI tools: ChatGPT, NotebookLM, and Transkribus. In this session, you’ll discover how each of these cutting-edge technologies can elevate your research by enhancing productivity, providing historical insights, decoding handwritten documents, and much more.  Whether you’re a beginner or an experienced researcher, this session will equip you with the AI resources to push your family history research further than ever before.

Decoding the Past: AI-Powered Photo Analysis for Genealogists

Every photograph contains hidden historical evidence, but only if you know how to look. In this visually-rich program, you’ll learn how artificial intelligence can help genealogists interpret and date old images by recognizing period fashions, hairstyles, architectural details, and military uniforms. You’ll also see how AI tools can evaluate damaged photos and suggest ethical restoration strategies. Through practical examples and demonstrations, this session shows how to combine machine vision with human expertise to unlock the stories behind your family photographs.

Reimagining the Past: AI-Generated Images for Genealogists

Artificial intelligence allows us to create vivid, historically-inspired images of our ancestors and their world. At the same time it raises new questions about authenticity and ethics. In this visually engaging program, you will learn how AI image generation can be used responsibly to reconstruct the past without rewriting it. Through examples ranging from restrained, AI-guided photo restoration to more imaginative artistic illustrations, you’ll learn the key techniques and recommended practices for maintaining transparency and historical accuracy.