Faculty:
- Coordinator and Instructor: Steve J. Little, Jr., Mark D. Thompson
- Other Instructors: Blaine Bettinger, PhD, JD; Nicole Dyer; Mary Kircher Roddy, CG; Judy G. Russell, JD, CG, CGL; Maureen Taylor
Tuition:
- Regular Price: $585.00
- NGS Member Price: $550.00
Description:
Join well-known experts and leading AI specialists for an intensive week exploring artificial intelligence in genealogy. From genetic genealogy and photo analysis to ethical considerations and custom AI tools, see the techniques assisting family history researchers today. Learn to build AI prompts, extract data from historical documents, and generate compelling family narratives, and much more.
Student Prerequisites:
Participants should be comfortable with computer basics including file management, web browsing, and working with digital documents (PDF, Word, images). Experience with genealogical research methods and documentation standards is expected. Previous AI experience isn’t required, but openness to learning new technological tools is essential.
Recommendations:
Register for free accounts with ChatGPT, Claude, and Gemini before class begins, plus a paid subscription ($20) to any one of these services. Spend at least 20 hours exploring these AI tools (play and have fun) prior to the course to develop basic familiarity with their interfaces and capabilities.
Important Notice Regarding Course Materials:
A traditional syllabus will not be provided. Instead, the faculty will distribute sections of your course materials during the course week. An outline will be made available one week before the course start date. You can compile the components provided and/or created in class to make a completed handbook for the course activities and lessons.
NOTE:
Sessions will be recorded and available through Friday, 11 July 2025, at 11:59 PM ET.
All times are listed in Eastern Time.
Live sessions may be subject to schedule adjustments by your course coordinator.
| Day | Session | Time | Session Title | Description | Instructor |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Monday |
Intro |
10:00 – 10:30 AM | Class Introductions | A chance to meet and greet your class | |
|
1 |
10:30 – 11:45 AM | How We Got Here: AI in 2025 | An overview of the current state of AI in genealogy and its evolution up to 2025. | Little | |
|
2 |
Noon – 1:15 PM | Prompts 1: The Basics-Parts of a Prompt | Learn the fundamental components of a successful AI prompt for genealogical research. | Thompson | |
|
3 |
2:15 – 3:30 PM | 2025 AI Rights and Wrongs: A Genealogist’s Look at Ethics, Copyright, Plagiarism & More | Explore the ethical implications of AI in genealogy, including copyright and plagiarism issues. | Russell | |
|
4 |
3:45 PM – 5 PM | Extraction from Images, Audio, Video | Techniques for extracting useful genealogical data from multimedia sources using AI tools. | Little | |
|
Tuesday |
5 |
10:30 – 11:45 AM | Using AI For Genetic Genealogy | A survey and demonstration of safe, current, and effect uses of generative artificial intelligence when working with DNA | Little/Thompson |
|
6 |
Noon – 1:15 PM | Prompt Engineering Summer 2025 | An exploration of advanced prompt engineering techniques tailored for genealogists in 2025. | Thompson | |
|
7 |
2:15 – 3:30 PM | “Chatting with Your Chatbot”: Building Conversations | Learn to create effective dialogues with AI chatbots for genealogical research and family history. | Thompson | |
|
8 |
3:45 PM – 5 PM | AI for Data Extractions and other Extras | Explore AI tools to extract, organize and link genealogical information to transform complex historical records into structured data, enhancing research efficiency and accuracy. | Roddy | |
|
Wednesday |
9 |
10:30 – 11:45 AM |
Prompts 2: Putting It All Together – Prompt Patterns |
Discover how to combine prompt elements effectively to generate accurate genealogical results. | Little |
|
10 |
Noon – 1:15 PM | Saved Prompts: Building Bots, Custom GPTs, Projects | Learn how to save and reuse AI prompts, build custom bots, and develop AI-driven genealogical projects. | Little | |
|
11 |
2:15 – 3:30 PM | Generating Images, Audio, Video | Discover tools and techniques for generating multimedia content using AI in genealogical research. | Little | |
|
12 |
3:45 PM – 5 PM | Learn Genealogy Faster with AI | Explore how AI can accelerate your genealogical research and learning process. | Thompson | |
|
Thursday |
13 |
10:30 – 11:45 AM | Your Family History AI Assistant: From Travel Planning to Photo Analysis | AI tools serve as valuable assistants for family history research, offering help with travel planning, research plan development, photo analysis, and photographer research. | Taylor |
|
14 |
Noon – 1:15 PM | The Current State of AI Ethics and Genealogy | Explore the ethical considerations of AI in genealogy, examining privacy, data ownership, and responsible use. | Bettinger | |
|
15 |
2:15 – 3:30 PM | Using Developer Workspaces and Tools | Learn how to utilize developer workspaces and tools for advanced AI genealogy projects. | Little | |
|
16 |
3:45 PM – 5 PM | Boosting Efficiency in Research Report Writing with AI | AI tools can enhance and streamline the process of writing genealogical research reports, helping researchers produce clearer, more organized documentation of their findings. | Dyer | |
|
Friday |
17 |
10:30 – 11:45 AM | The Future of AI Genealogy | A forward-looking discussion on the potential future developments in AI genealogy. | Thompson |
|
18 |
Noon – 1:15 PM | Panel Discussion: AI Genealogy | A panel of experts discusses the latest trends and challenges in AI genealogy. | Thompson |