 Why starting your descendancy research offline can lead to stronger genealogy discoveries Why I Don't Start My Genealogy Research Online: Descendancy Research Series – Part 3It may sound surprising coming from a professional genealogist, but one of the first pieces of advice I give people starting a new genealogy project, such as descendancy research, is this: Don't go online—not yet. In a world where millions of historical records are available with just a few clicks, it seems almost counterintuitive to avoid genealogy websites at the beginning of a project. But after years of researching my own family, clients, descendants, brick walls, and unknown parentage cases, I've learned that spending a little time offline first usually leads to better research, and fewer mistakes. Here's why. Start with What You Already Know Before searching a single online record, gather everything you already have. Talk with parents, grandparents, aunts, uncles, cousins, and longtime family friends. Pull out old photographs, letters, certificates, military papers, funeral cards, family Bibles, and other documents tucked away in drawers or boxes. You may be surprised how much information is already sitting in your own home, or in the homes of relatives. These first conversations many times reveal names, places, occupations, family traditions, and stories that never appear in historical records. Family Stories Are Worth RecordingFamily stories aren't always completely accurate. Names get mixed up. Dates change. Events become exaggerated over time. But I've found that most stories contain a kernel of truth somewhere within them. Instead of dismissing them, record everything. Later, you can compare those stories with historical records to determine which details can be confirmed. Sometimes one seemingly insignificant comment becomes the clue that solves an entire research problem. Record Every Clue—Even If It Doesn't Make Sense Yet One of the habits I've developed over the years is writing down every clue, no matter how small or insignificant it seems at the time. A nickname. A military branch. A hometown. An occupation. An illness. A family argument. A mention of "the twins." Even details that don't make sense initially may become incredibly important later. I've had research cases where a single clue, remembered years after a family conversation, eventually led to the correct person once enough evidence had been gathered. Draw Your Family Tree by Hand Yes... By hand. I know genealogy software is wonderful, and I use it regularly. But before entering information into a computer, I still recommend sketching out a simple family tree on paper. Why? Because drawing it yourself forces you to slow down. You begin noticing gaps. Questions naturally appear. Relationships become easier to visualize. You're thinking about the family instead of clicking hints. It doesn't need to be perfect. A rough sketch is usually all you need to organize your thoughts before diving into records. Why I Wait Before Searching Online This is probably the advice that surprises people the most. Online genealogy websites are incredible resources. But they also come with distractions. Within minutes you may find:
Beginning offline helps you develop your own understanding of the family before outside information influences your thinking. I want my conclusions to come from evidence, not suggestions generated by an algorithm. Build Your Own Foundation First Once you've gathered everything your family already knows and organized your information, then it's time to begin searching historical records. Now you're approaching those records with questions to answer rather than simply hoping the next hint will tell you where to go. That small shift in mindset usually leads to stronger research and more confident conclusions. Slow Down to Move Faster It may seem like you're delaying your research by avoiding online resources at first. In reality, you're building a much stronger foundation. The more organized you are before you begin searching records, the less likely you are to chase the wrong family, duplicate work, or overlook important clues already sitting in your own home. Sometimes the fastest way to solve a genealogy problem is to spend a little extra time at the very beginning. Part 2: How to Choose the Best Starting Ancestor for Descendancy Research This is #3 in a series based on my 2017 "Finding Descendants in Your Family Tree" presentation More Genealogy Research Methods & TipsGet more genealogy research tips, under the Genealogy Research Tips and Genealogy Quick Tips categories.
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 Choosing the right starting ancestor when beginning a descendancy research project in genealogy How to Choose the Best Starting Ancestor for Descendancy Research: Descendancy Research Series – Part 2Once you've decided to research your ancestors' descendants, the next question is often the hardest: Which ancestor should you begin with? It may seem like a simple decision, but choosing the right starting point can make the difference between an enjoyable, productive project and one that quickly becomes overwhelming. Over the years, I've found that a little planning before you begin can save countless hours later. Rather than selecting an ancestor at random, I recommend choosing one that gives you the greatest opportunity for success while keeping the project manageable. Here are the factors I consider when deciding where to begin. Start with an Individual or an Ancestral CoupleOne of the first decisions you'll need to make is whether to begin with a single ancestor or an ancestral couple. In most cases, I recommend starting with an ancestral couple whenever possible. This allows you to research all of their children and descendants together, providing a more complete picture of the family. If information about one spouse is limited, however, beginning with an individual ancestor may make more sense until additional records are located. If an ancestor has more than one spouse, you may want to choose that individual to start with. Four to Five Generations Back Is Usually Ideal One of the most common mistakes I see is starting too far back in the family tree. While it may be tempting to begin with your earliest known ancestor, doing so can create an enormous amount of unnecessary work. Every additional generation dramatically increases the number of descendants you'll need to research. In many cases, I find that choosing an ancestor about four to five generations back strikes a good balance. The family is large enough to provide valuable clues while still remaining manageable for most research projects. Consider an Immigrant Ancestor If your goal is to better understand how your family arrived in a new country, an immigrant ancestor often makes an excellent starting point. Researching all of their descendants can reveal migration patterns, settlement locations, occupations, military service, family traditions, and how later generations spread across the country. You may discover branches of the family you never knew existed. Choose Someone with an Interesting Story Sometimes the best starting ancestor is simply the one who sparks your curiosity. Perhaps they served in the military, survived a historical event, immigrated from another country, or left behind an intriguing family mystery. Research is often easier, and a lot more enjoyable, when you're genuinely interested in the person you're studying. Why I Usually Recommend an Ancestor Who Was Living Around 1850 Whenever possible, I recommend choosing an ancestor who lived around the mid-1800s. For many researchers in the United States, this provides access to a growing number of census records and other valuable historical sources while keeping the project within a manageable timeframe. Beginning much earlier often means working with fewer surviving records and significantly more generations of descendants to research. Don't Make the Project Bigger Than It Needs to Be I learned this lesson firsthand. For one of my own family lines, I decided to begin one generation earlier than I normally recommend. While it certainly can be done, it also created considerably more work because every additional generation adds more descendants to research. That experience reinforced something I still recommend today: start with a project you can realistically complete before expanding it further. There's always time to go back another generation later. Think About Your Research Goal Before selecting a starting ancestor, ask yourself:
You Don't Have to Start with the "Oldest" Ancestor Many beginners assume they should always start with the earliest known ancestor in their tree. In reality, that's rarely necessary. A more recent ancestor usually provides plenty of opportunities to learn descendancy research techniques while producing faster and more rewarding results. As your confidence grows, you can always expand your research to earlier generations. Start Smart, Not Big One of the keys to successful descendancy research isn't simply choosing an ancestor—it's choosing the right ancestor. By selecting a manageable starting point that fits your research goals, you'll build a stronger, more organized descendancy tree while avoiding unnecessary frustration. Remember, every successful research project begins with a single ancestor. Choosing that ancestor wisely can set the stage for discoveries that extend far beyond your direct family line. This is #2 in a series based on my 2017 "Finding Descendants in Your Family Tree" presentation More Genealogy Research Methods & TipsGet more genealogy research tips, under the Genealogy Research Tips and Genealogy Quick Tips categories.
8/2/2026 Gemini's AI Video for Genealogy: My First Ancestor Video Experiments (The Good, the Bad, and the Hilarious)Read Now Testing Gemini's new Omni AI video generation to create historical ancestor videos for genealogy Artificial intelligence continues to evolve at an incredible pace, and naturally, I couldn't resist testing another new feature. After experimenting with Google's new Lyria 3 and Lyria 3 Pro music generation tools, I decided to see what Gemini could do with AI-generated video. Could it create realistic scenes from an ancestor's life? Could multiple short clips be combined into a believable historical story? As usual, I turned to my "official AI test ancestor," Samuel Steinman. For the past few years, Samuel has been my consistent benchmark for testing new AI genealogy tools. Using the same ancestor across different AI platforms allows me to compare results more fairly over time. This time, however, I wasn't asking AI to write about Samuel. I wanted it to bring him to life. Experiment #1: No Prompt at AllFor my first test, I decided to do almost nothing. I uploaded only the AI-generated character portrait I had previously created of Samuel (in ChatGPT a little over a year ago)—no prompt, no instructions, no historical context. Gemini automatically generated a short 10-second video. To my surprise, it didn't simply animate the portrait. It also created an entire scene, complete with sound effects, dialogue, and a setting inspired by the background in the image. Because Samuel's character portrait happened to include a farm auction sign in the background, Gemini built an entirely new scene around that setting. While the story it created wasn't historically relevant to Samuel's actual life, it was very interesting to watch. The video felt surprisingly cinematic considering I hadn't given the AI any direction whatsoever. It was a pretty impressive demonstration of Gemini's creativity, but not necessarily of historical storytelling. Experiment #2: Directing "A Day in the Life of Samuel Steinman"Next, I wanted to see whether Gemini could create something much more meaningful for genealogy. Rather than letting AI invent its own story, I wanted to direct one myself. The idea was simple:
Samuel looked exactly like the character portrait I'd been using for a little over a year. The historical atmosphere was beautiful, the lighting felt cinematic, and watching him walk through town toward his butcher shop was genuinely impressive. At that point, I was thinking... "This might actually work." Then the AI Gremlins ArrivedThe second scene started well enough. Samuel unlocked the door to his butcher shop, reached up to remove his hat... ...and then immediately put it back on. Without explanation. Without reason. Apparently, he changed his mind. The third scene introduced an even more entertaining challenge. As Samuel prepared for the day, he began sharpening his butcher knives. Except the knives couldn't decide how many of themselves existed. One knife somehow became two. Then three. A cleaver suddenly appeared. Another knife seemed to duplicate itself. At one point, Samuel briefly wandered away from the butcher block before instantly returning as though nothing had happened. It reminded me a lot of the early days of AI image generation, when people mysteriously had six fingers or extra limbs. Instead of extra fingers... Samuel had extra knives.
What I LearnedDespite the amusing glitches, I actually came away fairly encouraged. Gemini did an excellent job maintaining Samuel's overall appearance from scene to scene. His facial features, clothing style, and the historical setting remained surprisingly consistent. Where the AI struggled was with object permanence and complex actions. Simple scenes, like walking, looking around, entering a building, etc., worked really well. Scenes involving multiple objects, hand movements, or several sequential actions were much less reliable. Hats developed minds of their own, knives multiplied, and continuity occasionally wandered off in unexpected directions. In other words, AI video today feels very much like AI image generation did a couple of years ago. The potential is obvious. The technology simply isn't quite there yet, at least maybe not for Omni. Will I Keep Testing It?Absolutely. This first experiment wasn't about creating a polished historical film. It was about discovering what today's AI video tools can, and can't, do for genealogy. As these models improve, I plan to continue using Samuel Steinman as my benchmark ancestor. Running the same prompts over time should provide an interesting look at how rapidly AI video evolves and whether it eventually becomes practical for creating historically inspired ancestor stories. For now, though... I'll probably keep a close eye on Samuel's hat. And count the knives. A Note on Responsible AI UseAs with all of my AI experiments, these videos are creative interpretations, not historical evidence. While AI can help visualize an ancestor's world, it should never replace documented research or be presented as an accurate reconstruction of events. If you choose to create AI-generated ancestor videos, consider clearly disclosing that they are artistic interpretations based on historical research. The genealogy, records, source analysis, and conclusions should always come from documented evidence, not the AI itself. Have you experimented with AI video yet? If so, I'd love to hear which tool you used and how your results compared. Did your ancestor behave perfectly...or did hats and household objects suddenly develop a mind of their own, too? More AI and Genealogy ResourcesLearn about more family history and genealogy resources under the AI in Genealogy and Genealogy Resources category and on my dedicated Genealogy Resources page.
 Creative AI for Genealogy: Easy, Engaging Family History Projects with Little or No Prompting Creative AI for Genealogy: You Don't Need to Be a Prompt Engineer Discover how today's AI tools can help you preserve and share your family history in engaging new ways, without writing complicated prompts. Artificial intelligence seems to be everywhere these days. Open social media, browse genealogy forums, or attend a conference, and you'll likely hear someone talking about AI. Unfortunately, many genealogists still feel that AI is complicated, intimidating, or only useful for people who enjoy writing long, detailed prompts. The good news? It doesn't have to be. Many of today's AI tools can create meaningful and engaging family history projects with very little effort. In many cases, all you need to do is upload a photo, choose an ancestor, or click a single button. But before we talk about the tools themselves, I'd like to ask you a few questions.
As genealogists, we spend tons of hours researching records, solving mysteries, documenting sources, and building family trees. But many times, those years of hard work remain tucked away inside binders, filing cabinets, genealogy software, or online family trees that few relatives ever explore. Our research deserves an audience. More importantly, our ancestors deserve to be remembered. AI Is Simply Another ToolArtificial intelligence doesn't replace genealogy research. It doesn't replace careful analysis, original records, or sound conclusions. Instead, AI gives us new ways to share the stories we've already uncovered. Think of it this way. A beautifully researched ancestor can become:
Only the way we tell the story has. You Don't Need to Be a Prompt Engineer One of the biggest myths about AI is that you need to become an expert prompt writer before you can create anything worthwhile. That just isn't true anymore. Many AI tools now include built-in features that require little or no prompting at all. Others need only a short instruction such as: "Generate a biography." or "Create a one-minute video about this ancestor." The technology has become much more friendly, allowing genealogists to focus on creativity rather than complicated instructions. Why Creative Projects MatterFamily history is much more than collecting names and dates. It is about preserving lives. When we transform our research into stories, music, videos, or visual experiences, we create opportunities for others to connect with our ancestors in ways that traditional pedigree charts just can’t. A grandchild may never sit down to read a twenty-page research report. But they might happily watch a one-minute video about a great-great-grandparent. They may listen to a song inspired by an ancestor's life. They may become curious after seeing an old family photograph gently smile through animation. Those moments can become the doorway into a lifelong interest in family history. A New Series on Creative AI Over the next several articles, we'll explore some of my favorite ways to use today's AI tools to bring family history to life. We'll look at projects such as:
Most of these projects require little or no prompting and can be completed by genealogists of all experience levels. You don't need to be a tech expert. You just need a story worth telling. And if you're a genealogist, chances are you already have hundreds of them waiting to be shared. Final Thoughts Artificial intelligence isn't replacing genealogy. It's giving us new ways to preserve, experience, and share the family stories we've spent years discovering. After all, the goal isn't simply to build a family tree. It's to make sure future generations want to climb it. More AI and Genealogy ResourcesLearn about more family history and genealogy resources under the AI in Genealogy and Genealogy Resources category and on my dedicated Genealogy Resources page.
7/19/2026 AI in Genealogy: Creating Ancestor Songs with Gemini's New Lyria 3 Music GeneratorRead Now Testing Gemini's new Create Music feature by turning my 2nd great-grandfather's life story into a folk ballad Ever since AI image generation became popular, I've wondered when AI music would become just as accessible for genealogists. I've been experimenting with AI music for a couple of years now using tools like Suno and AI Music Factory (you can read more about that at Creating Family History Songs with AI: Honoring Our Ancestor’s Through Music), usually by writing lyrics first (often with ChatGPT) and then letting the music platform bring those words to life. The results have ranged from impressive to surprisingly emotional. So when I recently noticed that Gemini now includes a Create Music feature powered by Lyria 3, I knew exactly what I wanted to test. Naturally, my official AI test subject made another appearance... My 2nd great-grandfather, Samuel "Sam" Steinman. My Test I actually discovered that this feature has apparently been available since around late February, but I simply hadn't noticed it. I spend far more time in ChatGPT and Claude than I do in Gemini, so this one slipped under my radar. For consistency, I used exactly the same source material I use for many of my AI experiments:
Test #1: No Prompt Required This may be the most beginner-friendly part of the entire feature. I simply selected the "Folk Ballad" template and uploaded Samuel's research profile. That was it. No prompt. No instructions. No songwriting. Anyone could do this. Gemini generated a song automatically. Actually...I generated two different versions, each about 30 seconds long. Version One I was pleasantly surprised. Although short, it actually included accurate information about Samuel's life and sounded pretty good. Version Two This one wasn't nearly as successful. Some basic facts were incorrect, despite using exactly the same uploaded research profile. That's one important reminder when using AI: Always fact-check the output. Wait...Why Was I Only Getting 30-Second Songs?After a little digging, I discovered something interesting. Everything I'd read suggested Lyria 3 was capable of creating songs closer to three minutes long, yet mine kept stopping after about 30 seconds. It turns out there are two different experiences:
The trick? I needed to switch my chat model from the default Flash to Pro before creating the music. Once I did that... Success. Test #2: The Three-Minute VersionNow Gemini produced a full-length song. This version was much more accurate than the second 30-second attempt. The problem wasn't accuracy. It was pacing. Samuel lived a full life. Trying to squeeze seventy years of births, deaths, moves, occupations, marriages, tragedies, and accomplishments into a three-minute song made everything feel rushed. Instead of telling a story... ...it sounded more like a timeline trying to sing. Test #3: Adding One Extra StepThis is where things became much more interesting. Instead of letting Gemini invent the lyrics, I first asked ChatGPT to write a proper folk ballad based on Samuel's research profile. Then I copied those lyrics into Gemini. I selected the same Folk Ballad music style. And let Gemini compose the music. The difference was dramatic. The lyrics flowed naturally. The story unfolded at a comfortable pace. The chorus repeated like an actual folk song. The music fit the lyrics instead of trying to summarize an entire lifetime in a few rushed verses. It sounded... Fantastic. My Overall Thoughts If you're completely new to AI... Gemini's Create Music feature is wonderful. Seriously. You don't have to know anything about prompting. You don't have to write lyrics. You don't even have to know where to begin. Choose a music style. Upload a document. Click Create. Done. That simplicity alone makes it worth trying. However... If you're willing to spend one extra minute creating better lyrics first, the results improve dramatically. For me, the winning workflow became:
Which Version Did I Like Best? Interestingly... My favorite wasn't actually the three-minute version generated entirely by Gemini. I actually preferred the original 30-second clip over Gemini's longer automatically generated song. The shorter version stayed focused and felt more polished. But the clear winner overall was: ChatGPT-generated lyrics + Gemini-generated music. That combination produced, by far, the best result. (I guess ChatGPT is still my favorite all-around AI tool!) Listen for Yourself I've uploaded all three versions to YouTube so you can compare them yourself. You'll be able to hear: I think hearing the differences side-by-side tells the story much better than words ever could. Final ThoughtsOne of my favorite parts of genealogy is finding new ways to tell our ancestors' stories. Sometimes that's through writing. Sometimes through photographs. Sometimes through animation. And... Sometimes through music. Will AI-generated songs replace carefully written family histories? Of course not. But they can add something wonderfully unexpected—a way to experience an ancestor's story rather than simply read it. And if a three-minute folk ballad inspires someone to learn more about the person behind the lyrics... I'd call that a successful experiment. More AI and Genealogy ResourcesLearn about more family history and genealogy resources under the AI in Genealogy and Genealogy Resources category and on my dedicated Genealogy Resources page.
7/12/2026 Why You Should Research Your Ancestors' Descendants (And Not Just Your Direct Line)Read Now Why researching your ancestors' descendants can reveal new stories, solve genealogy brick walls, and enrich your family history. Why You Should Research Your Ancestors' Descendants (And Not Just Your Direct Line) in GenealogyHave you ever spent hours—or even years—researching your direct ancestors, only to find yourself staring at a brick wall? If so, you may be overlooking one of the most powerful research strategies in genealogy: descendancy research. When most people begin tracing their family history, they naturally focus on their direct ancestors—parents, grandparents, great-grandparents, and so on. While that's an important part of genealogy, it's only one side of the story. What many genealogists don't realize is that researching an ancestor's descendants can usually reveal information that just isn't found by following your direct line alone. In fact, some of my biggest breakthroughs, both in my own family history and in client research, have come from looking forward instead of backward. What Is Descendancy Research? Descendancy research is exactly what it sounds like: instead of tracing your family tree backward through your direct ancestors, you start with an ancestor and research all of their descendants—their children, grandchildren, great-grandchildren, and beyond. Rather than focusing on a single branch, you're building an entire family network. This approach may take more time, but the rewards can be tremendous. Why Research Descendants?There are many reasons to research the descendants of an ancestor, and each project may have a different goal. Here are just a few ways descendancy research can benefit your family history research. Break Through Brick Walls Sometimes the answers you're searching for aren't found in your direct ancestor's records—they're hidden in the records of a sibling, cousin, niece, nephew, or another descendant. Perhaps a descendant's obituary identifies family members that earlier records never mentioned. A probate record may name heirs that establish relationships. A newspaper article might explain why a family suddenly disappeared from one location and reappeared somewhere else. By researching the entire family, you can uncover clues that solve long-standing mysteries. Find Living Relatives One of the most common reasons I use descendancy research methods is to locate living relatives. Whether you're hoping to reconnect with distant cousins, interview family members, identify potential DNA testers, or just expand your family connections, researching descendants often leads to relatives you never knew existed. Locate Family Photographs and HeirloomsFamily treasures don't always stay with your direct line. Old photographs, family Bibles, letters, military memorabilia, journals, and other heirlooms often pass down through different branches of the family. A distant cousin may unknowingly have the very photograph you've spent years searching for. Preserve Family Stories Every branch of a family preserves different memories. One cousin may remember stories about a great-grandparent's military service, while another has childhood memories, photographs, or letters that have never been shared with the rest of the family. Researching descendants helps preserve these stories before they're lost to time. Support DNA Research Descendancy research and genetic genealogy work hand in hand. When trying to solve an unknown parentage case, identify the parents of an ancestor, or confirm a family connection, finding the right living descendants to test can make all the difference. Building accurate descendancy trees also helps identify how DNA matches may fit into your family. Understand the Family as a WholeOur ancestors didn't live in isolation. They lived within families, communities, and networks of relatives who usually migrated together, served together in the military, witnessed each other's records, inherited property from one another, and appeared together throughout the historical record. Researching descendants lets you to see the bigger picture rather than viewing each ancestor as a single individual. Estate, Probate, and Heir Research Descendancy research is also an important tool in legal genealogy. Professional genealogists are often asked to identify living heirs, locate beneficiaries named in wills, or reconstruct families for probate and estate matters. These projects require researching entire descendant lines to determine who is living today and how they relate to the deceased. Medical Genealogy Family health history can sometimes be better understood by researching descendants. Learning about inherited conditions that appear across multiple branches of a family may help identify patterns that aren't obvious when looking only at your direct line. When Should You Consider Descendancy Research?Descendancy research may be especially useful if you are:
Looking Beyond Your Direct Line It's easy to become so focused on tracing your family tree backward that we forget another equally important direction—forward. Every child, grandchild, and great-grandchild of an ancestor represents another branch of your family's story. Those branches usually hold records, photographs, memories, DNA connections, and clues that can help answer questions your direct line alone cannot. After years of researching descendants for my own family, clients, attorneys, and investigators, I've found that some of the greatest discoveries happen when we stop looking only at where our ancestors came from and start exploring where their families went. Sometimes, the key to understanding the past is found by researching those who came after. This series is based off of my 2017 "Finding Descendants in Your Family Tree" presentation More Genealogy Research Methods & TipsGet more genealogy research tips, under the Genealogy Research Tips and Genealogy Quick Tips categories.
Google NotebookLM's new Short Video Overview feature transforms genealogy presentations and blog articles into engaging one-minute videos with AI.
Google NotebookLM's New Short Video Overview: A Genealogist's First Look
When Google NotebookLM first introduced Audio Overviews, I was impressed with how easily it could turn research into a conversational podcast. Since then, NotebookLM has continued adding new AI-powered features, and a few days ago another one quietly appeared: Short Video Overview.
Naturally, I had to try it. As many of you know, I enjoy testing new AI tools to see how they can actually help genealogists—not just because they're new, but because they might save time, improve communication, or make family history more engaging. So I spent some time experimenting. My Test
Rather than uploading random documents, I decided to use material I already knew well.
My first test used the PDF of one of my PowerPoint presentations, complete with the speaker notes: Finding Descendants in Your Family Tree NotebookLM analyzes whatever sources you add to your notebook and then offers three suggested topics it thinks would make good short videos. You can also ignore those suggestions and create your own custom topic. I generated several versions, using each option. The first attempt wasn't particularly impressive. The second was noticeably better. By the third version, NotebookLM had created a concise one-minute video that did a nice job explaining Why Genealogists Trace Descendants, one of the suggested topics. It wasn't perfect, but it was certainly good enough to share. Want to see the result? ▶ Watch: "Why Genealogists Trace Descendants" Testing with a Blog Article
Next, I wanted to see whether NotebookLM worked just as well with written content.
This time I uploaded one of my blog articles: 4 Essential Websites for Early California Genealogy Research Again, NotebookLM suggested several possible video topics. I generated several versions, trying each option, until I found one I liked. One that caught my attention was: How to Find Pre-1850 California Ancestors ▶ Watch: "How to Find Pre-1850 California Ancestors"
Testing both presentations and blog articles gave me a better idea of where this new feature shines—and where it still needs some work.
What I Like
After creating quite a few videos, here are my first impressions.
Short and Easy to Watch Each video is only about a minute long. That makes them much easier for viewers to consume than longer educational videos, especially on social media. It Finds Good Talking Points I was pleasantly surprised by many of the suggested topics NotebookLM generated automatically. Sometimes it identified the exact angle I would have chosen myself. Multiple Versions One thing I quickly learned is that you're not limited to a single result. If the first video isn't quite right, simply generate another. Each version is slightly different, and sometimes the improvement is significant. Custom Topics You're not limited to NotebookLM's suggested topics. If you already know what you'd like the video to focus on, you can enter your own custom topic and let NotebookLM build the video around that idea. Where It Still Falls Short
Like most AI tools, the results can be somewhat inconsistent.
Some videos were excellent. Others completely missed the point I wanted to emphasize. That's why I recommend generating multiple versions before deciding whether a video is worth sharing. Another thing I discovered is that the videos themselves can become fairly large files, even for these shorts. Since I wanted to add my website address to each video, I imported them into Google Vids to add a small text footer. That simple edit nearly doubled the file size. Instead of uploading those large files directly, I chose to upload them to YouTube and simply share the links. For me, that's a much more practical solution. Ideas for Genealogists
As I experimented, I found myself thinking beyond presentations and blog posts.
This feature could be useful for creating:
My Overall Thoughts
NotebookLM's Short Video Overview feature isn't perfect, but it's surprisingly useful.
Some videos will miss the mark. Others will capture your content remarkably well. The key is experimenting with different sources, trying multiple generations, and taking advantage of both the suggested and custom topics. For genealogists who already create presentations, write blog posts, or produce educational content, this feature offers another creative way to repurpose the work you've already done. I'll definitely continue experimenting with it, and I'm looking forward to seeing how Google improves it over time. If you've tried NotebookLM's new Short Video Overview feature, I'd love to hear about your experience. Did it capture your content well, or did you have to generate several versions before finding one you liked? More AI in Genealogy
Learn about more AI in genealogy updates, tips, and resources (including more NotebookLM tools), along with other family history and genealogy resources under the AI in Genealogy and Genealogy Resources categories and on my dedictaed Genealogy Resources page.
 Testing Ancestry's new AI-powered "Fill in Timeline Gaps" feature to see how well it enhances ancestor timeline facts Testing Ancestry's New AI "Fill in Timeline Gaps" Feature: My First ImpressionsArtificial intelligence continues making its way into genealogy, and Ancestry has quietly introduced another AI-powered feature that caught me completely by surprise. About a week and a half ago, while I was in the middle of researching one of my ancestors, I noticed something new. As I worked through an ancestor's profile in the Facts view, I saw small "Description" buttons appearing next to some—but not all—of the timeline facts. Curious, I clicked one to see what it was. That led me to Ancestry's new BETA "Fill in Timeline Gaps" feature. Of course, I had to stop what I was doing and put it through a few tests. What Is the "Fill in Timeline Gaps" Feature? When you click one of the new Description buttons, a side panel opens displaying Ancestry's BETA Fill in Timeline Gaps tool.  Ancestry AI Fill in Timeline Gaps Feature- Example The feature uses AI to generate a description for a specific timeline fact. Before generating the text, you're given three options for how detailed you'd like it to be:
It's a pretty simple concept, but one that has the potential to make ancestor profiles much more informative—especially for users who don't normally add descriptions to their timeline facts.  Ancestry AI Fill in Timeline Gaps Feature- Detail Choices Example Why Fact Descriptions MatterMany Ancestry users simply enter a date and place for events like births, residences, marriages, or deaths and move on. While that's perfectly acceptable, the Description field provides an opportunity to add context that helps tell the story behind each event. For example, instead of simply recording a residence, you might note that the family was living with relatives, renting a farm, or appearing in a particular census enumeration district. A birth description might include details taken directly from a birth record, while a military fact might summarize information found in a pension file. Adding these details can make an ancestor's timeline much richer and easier to understand without having to open every attached source. That's exactly why I was interested to see how well Ancestry's new AI handled this task. My First Test The first person I tested was my fourth great-grandfather, Nehemiah Hulet, simply because I happened to be working on his profile when I discovered the feature. I selected the Birth fact and generated all three description options. This test actually impressed me. The AI stayed focused on the birth event itself.
So far, so good.  Ancestry AI Fill in Timeline Gaps Feature- Example 1
My Second Test Produced Very Different Results Next, I switched to my "official tester ancestor," my second great-grandfather, Samuel Steinman, whose tree I've often used to evaluate new genealogy features. Once again, I selected the Birth fact and generated all three levels. This time, however, the results were completely different. Instead of describing Samuel's birth, the AI began summarizing his life.
That wasn't what I expected the feature to do.  Ancestry AI Fill in Timeline Gaps Feature- Example 2
Testing a Residence Fact I decided to keep experimenting. I selected one of Samuel's Residence facts—one of only a couple that displayed the new Description button. This time, the results were much closer to what I had hoped for. The AI focused on the specific residence and even incorporated information from one of the three sources attached to that event. Seeing the AI reference a supporting source was encouraging because I think that's where this feature has tremendous potential.  Ancestry AI Fill in Timeline Gaps Feature- Example 3 A Bit Hit-or-Miss (For Now) After trying the feature on several facts, my overall impression is that the results are currently somewhat inconsistent. Sometimes the AI stays focused exactly where it should—on the individual timeline fact. Other times it drifts into summarizing the ancestor's life rather than describing the specific event. Fortunately, this isn't particularly surprising. The feature is clearly labeled BETA, and beta features exist so developers can identify issues, improve consistency, and refine the user experience before wider release. Where I Think This Feature Could Really Shine As someone who researches professionally, I can currently write these descriptions myself much faster and with greater precision. For me, it's still quicker to manually add information to a fact description than to generate AI text and then edit it. However, experienced genealogists are not necessarily the primary audience for this feature. The majority of Ancestry users are family historians who may not realize they can—or should—add descriptions to timeline facts in the first place. For those users, this tool could become incredibly helpful. If future versions consistently:
My Overall ThoughtsI always enjoy seeing genealogy companies explore new ways to use artificial intelligence, and I appreciate that Ancestry continues experimenting with features that help users better understand and present their family history. Like many beta features, Fill in Timeline Gaps shows promise but still has a few rough edges. At the moment, I'd describe it as somewhat hit-or-miss, depending on the ancestor and timeline fact you're working with. When it stays focused on the specific event, it does a nice job of expanding the information. When it drifts into writing a mini biography for a single fact, however, it becomes much less useful. I'm optimistic that Ancestry will continue refining the feature as more people test it and provide feedback. As with any AI-generated content, remember that it should always be reviewed before accepting it. AI can be an excellent assistant, but it shouldn't replace your own analysis or careful evaluation of the records and sources supporting your research. For now, I'll continue experimenting with Fill in Timeline Gaps, and I'm interested to see how it evolves over the coming months. Have you noticed Ancestry's new AI "Fill in Timeline Gaps" feature yet? If you've tried it, I'd love to hear what you think. Did it stay focused on the individual facts, or did it wander into life summaries like some of my tests? Let me know in the comments! 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.
 MyHeritage New Tribute Reel Photo Feature: Bringing Family Photos Together in a Video Reel MyHeritage Tribute Reel: Bringing Family Photos Together in a New Way MyHeritage continues to expand its collection of AI-powered photo tools, and in May 2026 they introduced a new feature called Tribute Reel. As someone who enjoys preserving family history and exploring new ways to share it, I decided to give it a try using photos of my mother and grandmother. The results were both fascinating and surprisingly emotional. What Is Tribute Reel? Tribute Reel lets you to combine up to 15 photographs into a single animated video. The tool animates each photo, much like MyHeritage's LiveMemory feature, then seamlessly weaves the images together into a continuous presentation. Users can:
My First Experiments I started by creating several Tribute Reels using photos of my mom. As with many AI photo tools, I quickly discovered that some images work better than others. Certain photos produced natural-looking movements, while others generated results that felt less realistic. After a few attempts, I selected the images that animated most successfully and created a version I was happy with. Next, I experimented with photos of my grandmother. Again, I tested multiple versions, swapping photographs in and out and trying different music selections to see which combinations worked best. The ability to easily recreate the reel encouraged experimentation, and I found myself refining the project several times before settling on a final version. A Genealogist's Perspective Because I personally knew both my mother and grandmother, of course, I viewed the videos with a different perspective than someone seeing them for the first time. Some of the facial expressions and movements felt familiar and believable. Others did not reflect how they actually moved or expressed themselves. This is important to remember when using any AI animation tool: the animations are generated interpretations, not authentic recordings of a person's behavior. As genealogists and family historians, we should always be careful not to confuse AI-generated content with historical reality, and mark them as so. That said, the overall effect can still be powerful. The Emotional ImpactWhat surprised me the most was the reaction from others. Several people who watched the Tribute Reel commented on how moving it was. One person said: "I don't even know you and that brought tears to my eyes. Well done!" That response reminded me that family history is ultimately about people and connections. While we spend countless hours researching records, building family trees, and analyzing DNA matches, tools like Tribute Reel offer another way to share those stories in a format that resonates emotionally with family members. For relatives who may never read a lengthy research report or family history book, a short video can sometimes create an immediate connection to the past.  MyHeritage Tribute Reel: A Tribute to My Grandmother Final ThoughtsOf Course, Tribute Reel is not a replacement for traditional genealogy research, nor should its animations be viewed as historically accurate representations of our ancestors. However, as a storytelling tool, it offers an engaging way to showcase family photographs and create meaningful presentations for relatives. Like many AI tools, the quality of the final product depends on the photographs you choose, so don't be afraid to experiment with different images and settings. After creating reels for both my mom and grandmother, I found the feature really easy to use, fun to experiment with, and capable of producing some surprisingly touching results. For family historians looking for new ways to share treasured photographs and preserve memories, Tribute Reel may be worth exploring. Have you tried MyHeritage Tribute Reel yet? I'd love to hear about your experience and see how you've used it to bring your family history to life. More MyHeritage and Genealogy ResourcesLearn about more MyHeritage updates, tips, tools, and features and other family history and genealogy resources under the MyHeritage and the Genealogy Resources categories of my blog and on my dedicated Genealogy Resources page.
 Using AI beyond genealogy research: Creating speaking invites and promotional graphics in seconds with ChatGPT When most genealogists think about artificial intelligence (AI), they think about genealogy research. AI is often associated with transcribing documents, translating records, analyzing DNA matches, summarizing information, or helping solve brick wall problems. Although AI can certainly assist with those tasks, I use it for much more than genealogy research. Today, I spent some time creating promotional images for several of my upcoming genealogy presentations. It reminded me just how much AI has changed the way I create content for business and speaking engagements. What once required multiple programs and a considerable amount of design time can now usually be accomplished in seconds. My Journey Creating Speaking Invites with AII've been creating genealogy speaking invitations with AI ever since image generation tools first became available. Like many early adopters, I experienced the growing pains of the technology firsthand. The earliest AI-generated images often required significant editing and sometimes produced some pretty strange results. Text was frequently misspelled, designs could be inconsistent, and it usually took multiple attempts to create something usable. Over the past few years, however, the technology has improved dramatically. Each new update has brought better image quality, improved layouts, more realistic designs, and much greater control over the final result. Today, I can usually create a professional-looking speaking invitation in just a few seconds using ChatGPT's image generation capabilities. Examples
Less than 3 minutes for the batch. AI vs. Traditional Design ToolsFor many years, I relied heavily on Canva and Adobe Express to create promotional graphics, presentation invitations, website images, and social media content. I sometimes still use both tools and find them valuable for specific projects. Canva remains useful for certain templates and recurring image series, while Adobe Express offers additional design capabilities when I need more customization. However, when I need a quick graphic for an upcoming presentation or announcement, AI has become my first choice. Instead of starting with a blank canvas and manually building a design, I can simply describe what I need and have multiple options generated within seconds. This allows me to focus more on my presentations and less on the design process. AI in Genealogy Isn't Just for ResearchOne of the biggest misconceptions about AI in genealogy is that it is only useful for research. In reality, AI can assist genealogists in many aspects of their work, whether they are professional genealogists, society volunteers, speakers, bloggers, authors, or family historians. AI has become a valuable tool not only for discovering family history but also for sharing it with others. Other Ways Genealogists Can Use AIBeyond research, genealogists can use AI to help with:
The Biggest Benefit: Saving TimeFor me, the greatest advantage of using AI for image creation is the time savings. As genealogists, we already spend countless hours researching records, analyzing evidence, developing presentations, writing reports, creating educational content, and helping others discover their family stories. The less time I spend creating graphics from scratch, the more time I can devote to serving clients, preparing presentations, writing blog posts, and conducting research. While AI won't replace creativity or expertise, it can significantly reduce the time required to complete many routine tasks. Final ThoughtsAI has become one of the most versatile tools in my genealogy toolbox. While it can certainly assist with family history research, its usefulness extends far beyond records, DNA, and brick wall problems. Whether I'm creating speaking invitations, website graphics, blog images, or educational materials, AI helps me work more efficiently and focus on the aspects of genealogy I enjoy most. The next time you think about AI in genealogy, consider looking beyond research applications. You may discover that it can help simplify many other parts of your genealogy journey as well. How are you using AI in your genealogy work? Are you using it strictly for research, or have you found creative ways to incorporate it into your genealogy projects, presentations, society work, or business? More AI in GenealogyLearn about more AI in genealogy updates, tips, and resources (including photo tools), along with other family history and genealogy resources under the AI in Genealogy and Genealogy Resources categories and on my dedictaed Genealogy Resources page.
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Welcome to the BlogWelcome to Know Who Wears the Genes in Your Family! Here you'll find genealogy research tips, family history resources, DNA insights, technology and AI tools, genealogy news, and stories from my own research journey. Whether you're just starting your family tree, exploring your ancestry, or tackling a challenging brick wall, my goal is to help you discover, understand, and preserve your family's story. Categories
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