People are using AI completely wrong for genealogy and it’s because they don’t have a research method. Entering names into search boxes always results in low quality info.
AI is being used more and more to transcribe records and people often can’t find the person they’re looking for because the AI has transcribed them incorrectly. So, instead of doing ‘fuzzy’ searches they assume the person isn’t there, people need to be shown how to do a thorough search and make sure they check the images. Also, if you do find an error, please report it.
Yes! Absolutely people should report errors and they should be aware that just because you use the search bar -- and it doesn't bring up your ancestors name -- doesn't mean it's not there. That was an early lesson for me. I was looking for an obituary and Newspapers.com didn't find a match. A very nice woman sat me down and showed me how to navigate so I could read papers page by page. Suddenly I had the obit and a dozen other articles I hadn't found because it wasn't recognized.
I think I know what I'll be writing about next for my Genealogy 101 posts. ;)
People are using AI completely wrong for genealogy and it’s because they don’t have a research method. Entering names into search boxes always results in low quality info.
I agree. And then they post that info on FS and Ancestry and the next person copies the info.
Great advice on how to use AI as a Research Tool, and not as a Research Shortcut!!
AI is being used more and more to transcribe records and people often can’t find the person they’re looking for because the AI has transcribed them incorrectly. So, instead of doing ‘fuzzy’ searches they assume the person isn’t there, people need to be shown how to do a thorough search and make sure they check the images. Also, if you do find an error, please report it.
Yes! Absolutely people should report errors and they should be aware that just because you use the search bar -- and it doesn't bring up your ancestors name -- doesn't mean it's not there. That was an early lesson for me. I was looking for an obituary and Newspapers.com didn't find a match. A very nice woman sat me down and showed me how to navigate so I could read papers page by page. Suddenly I had the obit and a dozen other articles I hadn't found because it wasn't recognized.
I think I know what I'll be writing about next for my Genealogy 101 posts. ;)
I second what Jane said.