Generative artificial intelligence (AI) is a valuable new tool for genealogists, potentially saving hundreds of hours a year and offering new ways to organize our research. The “prompt” is perhaps the most important aspect of generative artificial intelligence (AI). The prompt is how we direct AI tools to give us the output we desire. However, forming these prompts can be challenging and is rarely a one-shot attempt. In this lecture we will examine some of the generative AI tools that are available to genealogists, and we will identify how to formulate (and reformulate!) AI prompts and look at ten example prompts that can save us significant time and effort.

Blaine Bettinger, Ph.D., J.D., is a professional genealogist specializing in DNA evidence and the use of artificial intelligence for genealogical research. Since 2007, he has authored the long-running blog “The Genetic Genealogist” (www.thegeneticgenealogist.com), and has been the founder of two very active Facebook Groups: “Genetic Genealogy Tips & Techniques” in 2017, now with more than 75,000 members; and “Genealogy and Artificial Intelligence” in January 2023 with nearly 7,000 members by May 2024. He frequently gives presentations and webinars to educate others about the use of DNA and artificial intelligence. Blaine is the author of The Family Tree Guide to DNA Testing and Genetic Genealogy, and co-author with Debbie Parker Wayne of the award-winning Genetic Genealogy in Practice, the world’s first genetic genealogy workbook. Blaine is or has been an instructor for genetic genealogy courses at the Institute of Genealogy and Historical Research (IGHR), Salt Lake Institute of Genealogy (SLIG), Genealogical Research Institute of Pittsburgh (GRIP), and Virtual Institute of Genealogical Research. Blaine is a graduate of ProGen Study Group 21, a trustee for the New York Genealogical and Biographical Society, and a member of the DNAngels Board of Directors since 2022 (President since January 2023), and a member of the Scientific Working Group on DNA Analysis Methods (SWGDAM) “Investigative Genetic Genealogy Working Group” since 2019.