James Tanner – The Family History Guide Blog

October 10, 2026

Will Genealogy Survive AI?

Note: This article appeared previously in the Genealogy’s Star blog site. https://www.familysearch.org/en/search/genealogies/submissions?f.collectionId=10000130 AI’s rapid advancement is caused by three factors: raw compute increases, algorithmic efficiency improvements, and “unhobbling” processes. In the current super-accelerated decade, we enjoy a 10,000x AI performance boost every four years, making it likely that AI will exceed top human experts by 2027. There are good arguments...

artificial intelligence/FamilySearch/Research Comments: 0

September 11, 2026

10 Ways to Survive Using the FamilySearch.org Website

Note: This article appeared previously on the Genealogy’s Star blog site. FamilySearch.org can seem overwhelming at first glance. Yet just as the saguaro cactus thrives in a harsh desert, you can adapt and master the platform. Here are ten practical survival suggestions for navigating the FamilySearch Family Tree and uncovering your ancestors. Much like packing a full canteen before trekking...

FamilySearch/Navigation/Research

September 5, 2026

Understanding FamilySearch.org’s User-Owned Trees

Note: This article was published previously on the Genealogy’s Star blog site. This blog post is basically a transcription of my online class for Sunday, 30 August 2026 from the BYU Library Family History Center. The narrative audio transcription has been edited by Google Gemini. The video recording of the class will be available on the BYU Library Family History Center YouTube...

FamilySearch/Research/U.S. Research

August 8, 2026

Outstanding Repair of Old Damaged Photographs by Google Gemini

Note: This article was published previously on the Genealogy’s Star blog site. The basic issue with the AI repair of old damaged photos in the concept that the AI recreates the image in the form of a copy of the original, while adding the details that are impacted by the damage. The old Photoshop technique was to work pixel by pixel and...

artificial intelligence/Memories

August 1, 2026

Online Fake Genealogy – Surname Scams

Note: This article was published previously on the Genealogy’s Star blog site. To legally and legitimately claim an authentic Tanner coat of arms, a researcher must trace their direct, unbroken male line back to a specific ancestor who was officially granted or recognized as bearing those arms by an official heraldic authority. Because there is no authentic, traceable lineage of my...

FamilySearch/Research

July 11, 2026

Keep or throw away: the challenge of genealogical documents and photos

Note: This article was published previously on the Genealogy’s Star blog site. This may not be obvious, but it is a generated image and it does bear a significant relationship to the recent status of the boxes in my basement. The past few weeks, various members of my family have come and “assisted” us in working through the piles of boxes in...

Memories/Technology

June 22, 2026

Brick Walls Come in all Sizes — How big is yours?

Note: This article appeared previously on the Genealogy’s Star blog site. I have always been in disagreement with the common family history and genealogy analogy to brick walls. Often, the term is applied to research situations that have appeared to reach a dead end. However, in real life, a brick wall is easily scaled or, even from a practical standpoint, can be...

Research

June 14, 2026

How to Improve Any Prompt

Note: This article appeared previously in the Genealogy’s Star blog site. A fundamental part of mastering communication with AI chatbots (subsequently AI) involves learning how to structure and write effective prompts. To develop this ability it is important to understand that the AI can help you draft an initial prompt on a specific subject and also refine and improve your...

artificial intelligence/Research/Technology

April 25, 2026

The Main Challenges of FamilySearch Full-text Search, Part Three

Note: This article appeared previously in the Genealogy’s Star blog site. https://www.familysearch.org/en/search/full-text These instructions about using simple Boolean Algebraic symbols for doing full-text search are a reminder that when you are using AI you are talking to a computer, not a person. If I started a set of Rules for AI in Genealogy, I would put this statement as the...

artificial intelligence/FamilySearch/Research

April 4, 2026

Precision Inquiry: The real core of using AI for research

Note: This article appeared previously on the Genealogy’s Star blog site. When the current wave of generative AI came out, the main draw seemed to be the Natural Language Interface (NLI). The NLI is not Voice Recognition. Voice Recognition is the “ears” (turning sound into text), while a Natural Language Interface (NLI) is the “brain” (understanding what that text actually means)....