Exploring FamilySearch’s AI Research Assistant: A Game-Changer for Genealogists

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!

FamilySearch Labs

More FamilySearch Updates, Features, and Tools

Learn 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 Resources

Learn about other family history and genealogy resources under the Genealogy Resources category and on my dedicated Genealogy Resources page.