 Testing Google NotebookLM’s new AI video feature for family history and ancestor storytelling If you read my earlier blog post on Google NotebookLM for Genealogy, you know how impressed I was with its ability to organize research, create summaries, generate timelines, and even produce audio overviews and podcasts from uploaded research, notes, sources, and more. Well, there’s an exciting new update that takes things a step further—and it’s one genealogists are going to love. Google NotebookLM has recently introduced a video generation feature, and I had the chance to test it out quite a few weeks ago. The result? A surprisingly powerful and creative new way to share your research and tell your ancestors’ stories. What’s New: Video Creation in Google NotebookLM NotebookLM’s latest feature allows users to automatically generate videos from the materials within their notebooks. Using your uploaded content—whether that’s family history notes, ancestor profiles, research summaries, or even blog posts—the AI can now create visually engaging, narrated videos that summarize and bring your work to life. You can upload:
Once your sources are uploaded, the AI processes your uploaded content and crafts a dynamic video complete with text narration, visuals, and effortless transitions. You can customize the tone and style, edit the output, or even download and refine it further in your preferred video editor. My Test Projects To see what it could really do, I tested the feature using two of my existing projects—both of which I had already created while exploring NotebookLM’s earlier capabilities. 1. The Life and Times of Samuel Steinman You may recognize this one from my previous blog—Samuel Steinman, my 2nd great-grandfather, is my official AI ancestor tester! This project already contained a rich mix of uploaded materials, including:
2. African American and Native American Research (Client Case) For a second test, I used an existing client project notebook that focused on a dual-heritage case study. Instead of starting from scratch, I simply uploaded my case notes, ancestor profiles (with tons of facts, details, and sources), and a blog post on that case into the notebook. NotebookLM used it to generate a compelling video titled “A Grandmother’s History,” highlighting key moments from the research in an accessible and visual format. The end result showed real potential for client work, offering a fresh and engaging way to share discoveries beyond the traditional written report. Why This Feature Is a Game-Changer for Genealogists The new video generation tool isn’t just fun to experiment with—it’s genuinely useful for a range of genealogical purposes: 🎞️ 1. Storytelling Made Easy Turn your ancestors’ research files, notes, and timelines into short, captivating videos. Perfect for family reunions, online sharing, or preservation projects. 🗂️ 2. Project Summaries Quickly create visual summaries of client research or ongoing projects to share progress or updates in a professional, creative format. 🎙️ 3. Companion to Audio Overviews Pair NotebookLM’s existing audio overview feature with the new video output to create both podcast and video versions of your work—ideal for multi-format storytelling. 🧬 4. Educational and Presentation Uses For genealogical educators and speakers, this feature offers new ways to present case studies or historical examples in a visual and engaging way, possibly using them for video blogs. 👩💻 5. Enhanced Family History Sharing Not everyone wants to read a 20-page narrative or research report. With these videos, you can share your family stories with relatives in a format they’ll actually watch and enjoy. Creative Possibilities for the Future The ability to turn your compiled notes, research, and documents into a video has tremendous potential for genealogists, educators, and storytellers. You could:
Final Thoughts Testing this new feature was a lot of fun. Seeing my ancestor Samuel Steinman’s story transformed into “The Steinman Family” video—and my client’s “A Grandmother’s History” brought to life—was incredibly rewarding. It’s one thing to read an ancestor’s timeline; it’s another to watch it unfold before your eyes, told in a narrative voice, backed by visuals that highlight the journey of discovery. This new video capability opens up endless creative possibilities for genealogists, family historians, and educators alike. Whether you’re preserving stories for your family, creating educational materials, or experimenting with AI-powered storytelling, Google NotebookLM is quickly becoming one of the most innovative tools available to us. Have you tried creating videos with NotebookLM yet? I’d love to hear how you’re using it in your own research or storytelling! More AI VideosSee more AI video testers and examples on my YouTube channel. More AI and Genealogy Learn about more AI in Genealogy updates, tips, and resources, along with other family history and genealogy resources under the AI in Genealogy and Genealogy Resources categories and on my dedicated Genealogy Resources page. #Genealogy #FamilyHistory #AIinGenealogy #GoogleNotebookLM #GenealogyVideos #GenealogyTech #GenealogyTools #GenealogyInnovation
1 Comment
 Using Google NotebookLM’s report features to enhance genealogy work Have you explored Google’s NotebookLM lately? If not, you’re in for a surprise. In just a few short months, it has rolled out a ton of new features — including something that immediately caught my eye: Reports. These preset, research-based templates automatically generate summaries, narratives, and even biographical sketches directly from your uploaded materials. Naturally, I had to see what it could do for genealogy research. Testing the New Report Formats When I opened NotebookLM to test out the new video overview feature, I noticed the addition of a Report section — something that wasn’t there the last time I explored it back in May and June. The new section offers several preset report themes (you can also choose Custom and input your own prompt), each already built with a distinct writing style and purpose. What’s especially interesting is that NotebookLM doesn’t just create a format — it actually chooses the topic based on the content you’ve uploaded. The first option I tested was the Historical Narrative Report, which automatically selected my great-grandparents, Cora Alice Taylor and Edmond Cole Steinman, as the focus. The result was a detailed six-page narrative that wove together years of research into a cohesive story — complete with historical context and biographical highlights. While the tone wasn’t exactly my own (a bit more academic and formal than my typical writing), it did an excellent job organizing, summarizing, and connecting information. It’s impressive to see AI pull together genealogical data into a complete, research-based family narrative.
Personal Story and Biographical Sketch Reports Next, I tried the Personal Story report option. This one, again automatically generated, chose my great-grandmother as the subject. The focus shifted to her personal journey and experiences, rather than the couple’s shared life. Then came the Biographical Sketch format, which NotebookLM titled “A Research-Based Biographical Sketch of the Taylor and Steinman Families.” This one took a broader approach — summarizing key facts and life events across multiple generations. It was almost like a “family summary report,” offering a high-level overview of several branches at once. Each of these formats demonstrated NotebookLM’s growing ability to interpret, organize, and write from complex genealogical notes, timelines, and records. Creating Custom Reports One of the most exciting additions is the “Create Your Own” option. This feature lets users design their own report from scratch or modify an existing preset. To test it, I copied the automatically generated text from the Historical Narrative report and repurposed it using my own chosen couples — my 2nd great-grandparents and my 3rd great-grandparents. NotebookLM successfully reshaped the text to fit the new subjects while maintaining the same structure and flow. This custom feature is especially useful for genealogists who prefer to keep their own tone and perspective while still using AI as a framework to organize their material. More Report Types (and What’s Coming Next) Along with the Historical Narrative, Personal Story, Biographical Sketch, and Create Your Own options, there are several other preset reports. Some are reimagined versions of older features that used to stand alone but are now neatly grouped under the Report category. One that particularly caught my attention — and that I plan to test next — is the “Blog” report option. This format could be a real time-saver for genealogists who write family stories, project updates, or research summaries online. If the existing report types are any indication, it could be a useful draft generator for writers who want to spend more time polishing than structuring. Final Thoughts The new Report options in Google NotebookLM is another leap forward for AI-assisted genealogy writing. These tools don’t just summarize data — they organize it, interpret it, and transform it into readable family narratives in minutes. Of course, while AI can’t replicate the unique storytelling voice or emotion genealogists can bring to their writing, it’s becoming an incredibly valuable assistant for structuring and streamlining the process. I’ll be diving deeper into the Blog report format next and sharing how genealogists can use it to make writing family histories faster and easier — without sacrificing the personal touch. Stay tuned! 💬 Have you tested out the new NotebookLM Report options yet? I’d love to hear your impressions and how you’re using AI in your genealogy writing. More AI and GenealogyLearn about more AI in Genealogy updates, tips, and resources, along with other family history and genealogy resources under the AI in Genealogy and Genealogy Resources categories and on my dedicated Genealogy Resources page. #Genealogy #FamilyHistory #AIinGenealogy #GoogleNotebookLM #GenealogyWriting #GenealogyTech #GenealogyTools #GenealogyInnovation
 Crafting fictionalized family letters in genealogy with AI, using ChatGPT-5 Even when we have detailed genealogical research, we often lack the most personal artifacts—letters, journals, or conversations. While we can’t recreate these exactly, we can use documented facts to write fictionalized letters that feel authentic to the time, place, and relationship, while remaining transparent about what’s imagined. For my research on Samuel Steinman (1855–1925), I tested ChatGPT-5’s ability to write a series of period-appropriate letters based on known facts about his life, his family, and his travels for work. 1) The Concept These letters are not invented out of thin air. They’re based on:
2) Example: Samuel Writes to Hattie, 1910 I know from records that in the spring of 1910, Samuel was temporarily in El Dorado, Kansas, working as a butcher, while his wife Hattie and two youngest children remained in Albany, Missouri. This scene became the basis for a fictionalized letter. Excerpt: El Dorado, Kansas – April 12, 1910 My dearest Hattie, The mornings here start earlier than I expected. The market bell rings just as the sun breaks the horizon, and before long the air is heavy with the smell of fresh beef and sawdust. Business is steady, though I find myself glancing out toward the street more often than I should, thinking of home. Tell Arthur and Lillie I am saving them each a peppermint stick from the mercantile, and please keep an eye on the garden until I return. Yours always, Sam
3) Why This Works for Genealogy Writing
4) How GPT-5 Helped
5) Could Older ChatGPT Do This? Yes--GPT-4 could produce fictionalized letters, but GPT-5 improved in:
6) Practical Tips (if you want to try this)
Quick-Start Prompt for Fictionalized Family LettersAnd because many seem to ask; although, it is no longer necessary to craft the perfect prompt, here is a prompt you can utilize to generate this: Write a historically accurate fictionalized letter based on the ancestor details below. Keep the tone, wording, and daily-life details appropriate for the time and place. Use only the confirmed facts I provide, and fill in small everyday details that fit the era. Label the final result as a fictionalized letter inspired by historical research. Ancestor Name: [Insert Name] Writing To: [Insert Name] Date/Year: [Insert] Location: [Insert] Known Facts: [Insert key details (or upload your research notes, timelines, ancestor profiles, etc.)—job, family members, where they lived, what was happening at the time] Write the letter as something this person could realistically have written during this period. More AI and Genealogy ResourcesLearn about more AI in Genealogy and other family history and genealogy resources under the AI in Genealogy and Genealogy Resources categories and on my dedicated Genealogy Resources page.
 DNA and historical records—two essential tools working together in genealogy research DNA and the Paper Trail: Why Both Are Essential in Genealogy Genealogy often feels like putting together a giant puzzle with missing, faded, or mismatched pieces. For decades, genealogists relied entirely on the “paper trail”—records such as census schedules, deeds, wills, church registers, and immigration documents—to reconstruct family stories. These records remain at the heart of family history research. But in recent years, DNA testing has become another powerful tool, offering clues and connections that records alone can’t always provide. The fact is: DNA and the paper trail go hand in hand. When used together, they can break through brick walls, confirm long-standing theories, and reveal hidden branches of the family tree. Especially in difficult cases, neither DNA nor documents alone usually give the full answer—they work best in conjunction with one another. The Paper Trail: Foundation of Research Historical records provide the structure of genealogical research. They give names, dates, places, and relationships, painting a timeline of our ancestors’ lives. Birth and marriage records, for example, can connect parents and children. Census schedules show household structures and migration patterns. Probate files and land deeds can tie families to specific communities over generations. But records aren’t perfect. They can be missing, incomplete, or totally misleading. Clerks made errors, families used nicknames, and sometimes people intentionally hid or altered information. For African American, Indigenous, immigrant, or poor ancestors, records may be especially sparse. This is where DNA steps in. DNA: Evidence Written in Our Cells DNA testing gives us genetic connections that no courthouse fire or missing parish register can erase. It allows us to:
When DNA and Records Work Together Case Example 1: Unknown Parentage Someone searching for a biological parent may have many close DNA matches, but without records those relationships are a tangled web. A genealogist uses documents—marriage records, obituaries, census schedules—to map out the families of each DNA match. This combined approach narrows the possibilities until the parent is identified. Case Example 2: The Disappearing Ancestor An ancestor seems to vanish after the 1880 census. A cluster of DNA matches points to a family living in another state. By following probate and land records for that family, a genealogist uncovers that the missing ancestor remarried, changed locations, and lived under a slightly altered name. DNA provided the direction, records confirmed the story. Case Example 3: Deep Ancestry For those researching immigrant ancestors from countries with poor record survival, DNA matches often cluster in a specific region. Combined with church and civil records that still exist, DNA leads the genealogist to the correct village or townland, providing context and confirmation. Best Practices for Combining DNA and the Paper Trail
The Power of Both Neither DNA nor a paper trail is enough on its own for solving the most difficult genealogical problems. But together, they form a powerful alliance. Records give us structure; DNA gives us proof. Records give us names; DNA gives us connections. And when combined, they let us reconstruct not only family trees, but also the full, complex stories of the people who came before us. For genealogists facing brick walls, it's pretty plain to see: don’t choose between DNA and the paper trail. Use both—and watch as the puzzle pieces finally come together. #GenealogyResearch, #DNAGenealogy, #BrickWallBusting More Genetic Genealogy/DNA in GenealogyFind more DNA genealogy resources, tips, and other info under the Genetic Genealogy and DNA category. More Genealogy Research Tips11/2/2025 Immersive Genealogy with ChatGPT-5: Turning Research into “A Day in the Life” StoriesRead Now Bringing ancestor research to life with immersive storytelling, with the help of ChatGPT and AI Genealogical research can give us the facts about an ancestor’s life—but those facts alone don’t always help readers picture the world they lived in. That’s where immersive storytelling can make history feel alive. For my research on Samuel Steinman (1855–1925), my official AI tester ancestor, I tested ChatGPT-5’s ability to take verified facts and create short narrative scenes imagining what an ordinary day in his life might have been like. Then, I paired each scene with a historical context blurb so whoever is reading enjoys both the immersive moment and the educational background. 1) A Day in the Life ScenesWhat they are: Short, stand-alone portraits that place the reader right beside the ancestor in a specific time and place. These aren’t fictional in the sense of “made-up events”—they’re built from factual research (your research) about where the ancestor was, what they were doing, and what their environment was like. Example: Albany, Missouri, Spring 1910 — Samuel’s hands worked quickly, trimming the fat from a slab of beef as the morning rush began at the market. The wooden counter smelled faintly of sawdust from the day before, and the bell over the door jingled with each new customer. He glanced out the window toward the dusty street, thinking of Hattie tending the garden back home. Why I use them:
How GPT-5 helped:
2) Historical Context Blurbs What they are: Brief factual side notes that explain the real-world background to each scene—placed directly after the short narratives so they feel connected, not like an appendix. Example paired with the above scene: Historical Context – Butchering in Missouri, 1910 In the early 20th century, local butchers were central to small-town economies. Shops often relied on deliveries from nearby farms, and refrigeration was limited to iceboxes. Skilled butchering meant not just cutting meat but also advising customers on the best cuts for stews, roasts, or Sunday dinners. Why I use them:
How GPT-5 helped:
3) Pairing Scenes and Context for Maximum ImpactWhen paired, the scene and context work together like this:
This approach creates a “Life in Scenes” section that’s especially engaging for books and blogs because it blends the emotional connection of narrative with the reliability of factual context. A Day in the Life Scenes ExampleThis is any example of one, of many, A Day in the Life Scenes of Samuel Steinman. *Click to zoom in
What GPT-5 Did Better (vs. earlier ChatGPT)
(Could older ChatGPT do this?) Yes--GPT-4 could write both scenes and context notes, but GPT-5 reduced the amount of rewriting I needed to align them in tone and detail. Practical Tips (if you want to replicate this)
PromptAnd because many seem to ask; although, it is no longer necessary to craft the perfect prompt, here is a prompt you can utilize to generate this: Prompt: Write a detailed “Day in the Life” story for [full name] in [year or period], based on the following known facts: [insert facts/research notes, etc. here—location, occupation, events, family, etc.]. Use historically accurate details about the time period, location, and occupation to make the scene vivid. Blend the documented facts with realistic daily activities for that era, but avoid adding major fictional events. Keep the tone immersive and narrative, as if the reader is experiencing the day alongside the person. Include sensory details (sounds, smells, sights) and interactions with family or community. More AI and Genealogy ResourcesLearn about more AI in Genealogy and other family history and genealogy resources under the AI in Genealogy and Genealogy Resources categories and on my dedicated Genealogy Resources page.
|
Author, Diane HenriksHi, I'm Diane Henriks, a professional genealogist, speaker, author, investigator, and the founder of Know Who Wears the Genes in Your Family who... Know Who Wears the Genes in Your Family: Family History and Genealogy BlogI hope my family history and genealogy blog on genealogy research tips, resources, events, and more, along with my own genealogy journeys, will help you in your research and in building your family tree to learn more about your ancestors and family history to preserve for future generations to come! Categories
All
Top Posts
BlogrollEvalogue.Life, Heart of the Family, Molly's Canopy, Climbing My Family Tree, DNA Breakthroughs, Ancestral Findings, Genealogy Tip of the Day, Family History Daily, Heart of the Family Blog Party, Genea-Musings, Best of the Genea-Blogs, Genealogy à la carte, Empty Branches on the Family Tree, Our Growing Family Tree
Come visit me at Know Who Wears the Genes in Your Family if you're interested in starting your family history journey, booking me for your next speaking event, or family history and genealogy heirloom products!
Archives
January 2026
|
RSS Feed
Ready to Discover your family's Story? Start Your journey Today! |
|
📌 Quick Links💡 Tips & Resources⚖️ Legal |
🧬 ServicesGenealogy Research | DNA Research | Brick Wall Research | Heir & Living People Search | Unknown Parentage Research | Ancestor Biographies | Publishing | Coaching | Workshops | Speaking
📚 Products |
📬 Stay Connected🕒 HoursMon–Sun: 8am – 8pm
🗺️ Map
|
|
Member of the Association of Professional Genealogists |
✨ Commitment
Know Who Wears the Genes in Your Family is dedicated to promoting family history and genealogy, while maintaining commitment to client care and professional service, and adheres to the Code of Ethics and Professional Practices put forth by the Association of Professional Genealogists.
© 2016–2026 Diane Henriks | Know Who Wears the Genes in Your Family. All rights reserved.