 MyHeritage’s New Cousin Finder Feature Makes Finding Relatives Easier One of the biggest joys in genealogy is making connections—finding long-lost relatives, collaborating with family members, and discovering shared ancestry. MyHeritage has just made that process even easier with their newest tool, Cousin Finder. This innovative feature helps you identify and connect with relatives who share your ancestors—all without taking a DNA test! What Is Cousin Finder? Cousin Finder is a brand-new feature exclusive to MyHeritage that uses the power of family tree matches to identify your blood relatives. It builds upon MyHeritage’s Smart Matches, which compare your family tree with millions of others to find overlapping ancestors. But rather than leaving you to sift through endless matches, Cousin Finder does the work for you, automatically pinpointing the relatives who share a direct ancestral connection with you. How Does It Work? To take advantage of Cousin Finder, you’ll need a family tree on MyHeritage that includes Smart Matches with other trees. The more detailed your tree, the better your results will be! Here’s how it works:
Why This Matters for Genealogists For years, DNA testing has been a key tool in identifying unknown relatives. But not everyone has taken a DNA test, and not every match provides a clear relationship path. Cousin Finder fills this gap by using well-researched family trees to build connections based on documented lineage. Here’s why it’s a game-changer: ✅ Find cousins who haven’t taken a DNA test – Many genealogists have extensive trees but haven’t tested their DNA. Now, you can connect with them based on shared ancestry alone. ✅ See exactly how you’re related – Unlike DNA matches, which can sometimes be unclear, Cousin Finder provides a definitive relationship path based on family trees. ✅ Collaborate with newfound relatives – Once you find a cousin, you can message them (with a MyHeritage subscription) to share information, exchange records, and fill in missing branches of your tree. ✅ Expand your tree faster – Learning from relatives who have researched different branches of your family can help you uncover new generations, stories, and connections. How Is It Different from Smart Matches and DNA Matches? While Smart Matches highlight possible connections between trees, they can be overwhelming because of the large amount. Cousin Finder simplifies the process by extracting only your confirmed relatives, making it easier to focus on meaningful connections. Unlike DNA matches, which rely on genetic relationships, Cousin Finder works from family trees. While tree-based research requires verification, it offers a clearer picture of exactly how you’re related—something DNA alone can’t always provide. Getting Started with Cousin Finder You'll find Cousin Finder under the Discoveries drop-down, and it's free to use for all MyHeritage users, though reaching out to matches requires a subscription. It’s currently available on the MyHeritage website and mobile browsers, with app support coming soon. If you already have a tree on MyHeritage, now is the perfect time to explore Cousin Finder and see just how many cousins you have waiting to be discovered. And if you don’t have a tree yet—what are you waiting for? This tool makes it easier than ever to build, grow, and connect your family history.  How to Get to Cousin Finder Have you tried Cousin Finder yet? I’d love to hear your thoughts and experiences—drop a comment below! More MyHeritage and Other Genealogy ResourcesLearn about more MyHeritage and other family history and genealogy resources under the MyHeritage and Genealogy Resources category and on my dedicated Genealogy Resources page.
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 Ancestry’s New AI Image Transcript Feature in Action Ancestry has rolled out an exciting new feature currently in BETA: the Image Transcript tool! This AI-driven tool can transcribe handwritten journals, diaries, and letters that are uploaded to your family tree, making it easier than ever to preserve and read ancestral documents. While still in development, this tool shows great promise in assisting genealogists with historical handwriting recognition. How to Use the Image Transcript Tool Getting started with this feature is simple. Here’s how you can try it out:
🚨 Note: You may occasionally see an error message stating, “Unfortunately, we can't create a transcription. But this feature is constantly being upgraded to handle more document types. Please try again soon.” If this happens, you can try again later, or it may mean the document is currently unsupported. Putting It to the Test I’ve taken some time to test out this feature with different types of documents, and the results have been quite promising! 🔍 Mid-1800s Bible Page During RootsTech, when Ancestry first announced this tool, I uploaded an old Bible page from my 3rd great-grandfather’s Bible, filled with mid-19th-century handwriting. To my surprise, the tool performed quite well, successfully transcribing a significant portion of the text! While not perfect, it still captured much of the content, and as this tool improves, I expect even better accuracy over time.  Ancestry AI Image Transcript- Example 1-1  Ancestry AI Image Transcript- Example 1-2 📝 1960s Letter Just a couple of weeks later, I tested a handwritten letter from the 1960s, provided by a client. The results were even more impressive! The tool transcribed nearly everything correctly, with only two minor errors. This could be due to either the handwriting being clearer or the AI having already improved in just a short period.  Ancestry AI Image Transcript- Example 2-1  Ancestry AI Image Transcript- Example 2-2 Final Thoughts While still in BETA, Ancestry’s Image Transcript tool is showing great potential. As it continues to develop, it could become an essential resource for genealogists looking to extract text from historical handwritten documents with ease. Whether you’re working with centuries-old diaries or more recent family letters, this tool may soon save you time and effort in reading and preserving family history. If you haven’t tried it yet, give it a go and see how well it works for your documents! Have you tested the Image Transcript tool? Share your experiences in the comments! 📌Note:Since the Image Transcript feature is still in BETA, not everyone may have access yet. While Ancestry announced this feature during their RootsTech Innovation and Tech Forum 2025 session, they did not mention it was in BETA at the time. However, because it is still being tested and refined, availability may vary by account, subscription level, and possibly even location (U.S. always seems to be first). If you don’t see the feature yet, keep checking back! More Ancestry and Genealogy ResourcesLearn about more Ancestry updates, tips, tools, and features and other family history and genealogy resources under the Ancestry.com and the Genealogy Resources categories of my blog and on my dedicated Genealogy Resources page. More AI Tips, Tools, and FeaturesLearn about more AI in Genealogy tips, tools, features, and resources under the AI in Genealogy category.
 FamilySearch’s AI Research Assistant helps genealogists discover new ancestors, records, and insights! At this year’s RootsTech conference, FamilySearch unveiled an exciting new experiment in their FamilySearch Labs: the AI Research Assistant. This cutting-edge tool harnesses generative AI to help genealogists discover new ancestors, find records, and even pull insights from the web. If you’ve ever wished for a genealogy assistant that could quickly scan your tree, locate records, and suggest new family members, this new feature might be exactly what you need! What Is the AI Research Assistant? The AI Research Assistant is designed to: ✅ Search your FamilySearch tree to find missing ancestors. ✅ Find historical records and sources from FamilySearch. ✅ Provide genealogical insights based on available records. ✅ Pull information from the web, offering new research avenues. How It Works: A Real-Life Test To see how well this AI-powered feature performs, I tested it on Margaret Brown, a suggested ancestor from my FamilySearch tree. I selected the AI-generated question: “Help me find genealogical information about Margaret Brown.”  FamilySearch’s AI Research Assistant: Example 1 The AI’s Results Within seconds, the AI Research Assistant returned a detailed genealogical summary, confirming: 📌 Full Name: Margaret Brown 📌 Birth Date: March 28, 1863 📌 Birth Place: Dalziel, Lanarkshire, Scotland 📌 Parents: William Brown & Janet Tennant (also recorded as Janet Jeannatt Brown) Here’s a screenshot of what the AI generated:  FamilySearch’s AI Research Assistant: Example 1-2 Even more impressively, the AI cited its sources, providing two records directly from FamilySearch’s collection:  FamilySearch’s AI Research Assistant: Example 1-3 These records were quickly retrieved from Scottish birth and civil registration records, verifying Margaret’s birth details and parentage. Beyond FamilySearch: AI’s Web-Pulling Power While the Margaret Brown example showcased how fast AI can find and summarize FamilySearch records, I wanted to test its ability to search the web for additional genealogy insights—a feature highlighted during RootsTech. I decided to run a search on a more recent ancestor—my father. The results were astonishing. In addition to pulling his birth index, death index, and 1950 census record from FamilySearch, the AI also retrieved a memorial post from my family’s Facebook page—where his passing had been announced. It even included comments from family members, friends, and the Facebook page followers under that post. This demonstrates the real power of AI-assisted genealogy: the ability to bridge historical records with modern digital footprints, uncovering information beyond traditional archives. How to Access the AI Research Assistant Want to try it for yourself? Here’s how to activate this experimental feature: 1️⃣ Sign in (or create) a free FamilySearch account. 2️⃣ On the right-hand side of your FamilySearch home page, scroll down to “FamilySearch Labs.” 3️⃣ Click “View Experiments.” 4️⃣ Find “AI Research Assistant” and click “Try It.” 5️⃣ Start exploring new insights into your family tree! Why This Matters for Genealogy AI is transforming genealogy research by making it faster, more intuitive, and more comprehensive. With FamilySearch’s AI Research Assistant, genealogists can: 🔍 Quickly identify missing ancestors in their tree. 📜 Find relevant records without manual searching. 🌐 Discover web-based family history clues, even from social media. 📝 Ask AI genealogical questions for deeper insights. This is just the beginning of AI-assisted genealogy. As FamilySearch continues refining this tool, we can expect even greater breakthroughs in how we uncover and document our family histories. Have you tested the AI Research Assistant yet? Share your experiences in the comments! More FamilySearch Updates, Features, and ToolsLearn about other FamilySearch updates and features to help in your family history and genealogy research under the FamilySearch category and on my dedicated Genealogy Resources page. More Genealogy ResourcesLearn about other family history and genealogy resources under the Genealogy Resources category and on my dedicated Genealogy Resources page.
 RootsTech 2025: World’s Largest Family History Event Wrap-up If you don’t know what RootsTech is, it’s the largest family history and genealogy event, around the world, of the year, celebrating family! RootsTech has certainly done it again! That was a fantastic, fun-filled 3 days! They seem to top themselves each year! The RootsTech 2025 event, hosted by FamilySearch, has finally come to an end, but the learning has not. Did you know that you can still access RootsTech? Not only can you access almost everything in your playlist for 3 years, the sessions/classes, keynotes, and Expo Hall (just not the deals), but they are keeping your chats available (to copy down your info) for the year, and you can still access RootsTech Relatives for the rest of the month! So, if you want to view any of the more than 1,500+ RootsTech Sessions (most of the 412+ in-person and online sessions for 2025 and most of the other sessions from the past 3 years), Keynote Speakers or the Expo Hall, they are all still available, and will continue to be available! RootsTech: The Event of the Year, Once Again RootsTech began in 2011, in-person, in Salt Lake City, and for their 10th anniversary, had to get creative, due to Covid. RootsTech 2021 was such a hit going virtual and FREE three years ago, due to Covid, that they went from about 30,000 attendees the year before to over 1,000,000! It was so amazing that they decided to do it again for 2022, and once again broke their record to 3,000,000! Then, they really outdid themselves by going hybrid two years ago, keeping the virtual platform, they designed just to use with the 2021 pandemic event that reached the entire world, and combining it smoothly with an in-person event for those missing the in-person experience, in which they had over 4,000,000 attendees worldwide from 240 countries and territories! This year, hybrid as well, was no exception and was once again the most fantastic global, family discovery event of the year, genealogy or otherwise! My RootsTech 2025 Faves Although I joined virtually and missed out on just a few in-person only sessions and aspects like MyHeritage's featured session and joining up with groups that I'm a part of, I had a great time! I absolutely loved everything about RootsTech, from ALL of the keynote speakers, the sessions, the new RootsTech theme song, “Who I Am” and featured video, the Relatives at RootsTech, the Expo Hall, to the chat and more, all of it was fantastic! All the keynote speakers were amazing, but my absolute faves this year were designer and artist, Dana Tanamachi’s inspiring and emotional personal family history story and journey; activist, author, and missionary to youngsters to preserve their family history and stories, Ndaba Mandela’s powerful and meaningful message; and singer, song writer and YouTube content creator Ysabelle Cuevas’ inspiring personal family history story, that hit home, and her version of the theme song! My other absolute faves at RootsTech were the Innovation and Tech Forum and FamilySearch Global and Tech Forum, as always; the Impact Forum, especially photographer Mylo Fowler’s powerful and inspiring story and message; the beautiful rendition of the theme song that was song by both Tanner Towsend (who did the original) and Ysabelle Cuevas! I joined many classes and have to say my faves this year were the very well organized, clear, concise, thorough, and excellent speakers and their topics, Mindy Taylor and her topic “ Analyzing Evidence: A Research Game Changer”; David Allen Lambert and his topic “ Getting Started in Scottish Research” that covered information fill for ALL levels and Alice Childs and her topic “ Extracting Evidence: Strategies for Analyzing Genealogical Sources! RootsTech 2025 at a Glance Attendees:
Relatives at RootsTech 2025:  Out of over 460, 000 participants of Relatives at RootsTech...  I had over 30,000 relatives at RootsTech this year! New 2025 Innovations and Tech I Got to Learn About
I saw as much of the main stage as possible and joined quite a few classes, and I’m so glad that I can save the rest to my playlist for later; of course, there was no way to get in everything in just 3 short days! 😉
It was such a big hit once again that they’ll being going hybrid again next year! See you on March 5th of 2025! Don't forget to discover your past and those that came before, by including family, friends, strangers, communities, and the world! Discover those that have made the biggest impact on you, your stories, memories, traditions, and more, and preserve those memories for future generations so they can learn from our experiences! Discover how you can share your family history discoveries, knowledge, and resources to help others discover those that came before and who had the greatest impact on their lives! Discover you, discover connection, discover something new about your story and connect with it in a deeper way! If you missed the RootsTech 2025 event, you can still sign up for FREE online and view all the classes for FREE, at RootsTech! Don’t have an account? You can create your FREE FamilySearch account at FamilySearch!  Top 5 Reasons to DNA Test for Genealogy In recent years, DNA testing has revolutionized the field of genealogy. What was once limited to dusty archives and oral histories has now expanded into the realm of genetic analysis, offering a deeper, more scientific understanding of our roots. But why should you consider taking a DNA test? Below are the top five reasons, complete with detailed explanations and examples, to help you decide if DNA testing is right for you. 1. Discovering Your Ethnic Origins One of the most popular reasons people turn to DNA testing is to discover their ethnic origins. Companies like AncestryDNA, 23andMe, FamilyTreeDNA, MyHeritage, and Living DNA analyze your DNA to provide estimates of your ethnic makeup. This can reveal surprising details about your heritage, connecting you to regions and cultures you might not have known were part of your family history. Example: Imagine growing up with the understanding that your family was predominantly of Irish descent, only to find through DNA testing that you have significant Scandinavian roots. This newfound knowledge could inspire you to explore Scandinavian customs, learn the language, or even travel to the region to connect with your ancestral homeland. 2. Connecting with Genetic Relatives DNA testing can connect you with relatives you never knew existed. Whether you're looking to expand your family tree, find distant cousins, or even discover biological family members, DNA matches can lead to meaningful connections and enrich your understanding of your family's history. Example: A woman adopted at birth used DNA testing to find her biological parents and siblings. Through the DNA matches provided by the testing service, she was able to connect with a half-sister who had been searching for her as well. This discovery not only filled in missing pieces of her personal history but also introduced her to a whole new family. 3. Breaking Down Brick Walls in Genealogical Research Genealogists often encounter "brick walls"—points in their research where records become scarce or nonexistent. DNA testing can help break down these barriers by providing clues that guide researchers toward new records or previously unknown family connections. Example: A genealogist struggling to find records for an ancestor who immigrated to the United States in the 1800s discovered a distant cousin through DNA testing. This cousin had access to family letters that mentioned the ancestor's original name and birthplace in Europe, providing the breakthrough needed to continue the research. 4. Understanding Genetic Health Risks While genealogy-focused DNA tests primarily provide information about ancestry and relatives, some services also offer insights into genetic health risks, such as 23andMe. By understanding your genetic predispositions, you can make informed decisions about your health and lifestyle, potentially catching issues before they become serious. Example: A man with a family history of heart disease took a DNA test that included health risk analysis. The test revealed that he carried a genetic variant associated with an increased risk of heart conditions. Armed with this knowledge, he consulted his doctor and adopted a healthier lifestyle to mitigate his risks, possibly preventing future health problems. 5. Preserving Your Family's Legacy for Future Generations DNA testing is not just about uncovering the past; it's also about preserving your family’s legacy for future generations. By testing your DNA, you contribute to a genetic record that your descendants can use to understand their heritage, make connections, and continue building the family tree long after you're gone. Example: A grandfather decided to take a DNA test to leave a genetic record for his grandchildren. Along with the results, he wrote a letter explaining what he knew about the family's history and how DNA testing might reveal even more. His grandchildren now have a valuable resource for exploring their heritage and adding to the family's legacy. ConclusionDNA testing offers a fascinating window into our past, present, and future. Whether you're curious about your ethnic roots, looking to connect with relatives, or aiming to break down brick walls in your genealogical research, DNA testing can provide the answers you seek. Additionally, understanding your genetic health risks and preserving your family's legacy for future generations makes DNA testing a powerful tool that extends beyond simple curiosity. With each test, you’re not just uncovering your story—you’re also adding to the ever-growing tapestry of human history. More Genetic Genealogy/DNA ResourcesFind more DNA genealogy resources, tips, and other info under the Genetic Genealogy and DNA category. More Genealogy ResourcesLearn about more family history and genealogy resources under the Genealogy Resources category and on my dedicated Genealogy Resources page. More Top Genealogy |
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