Artificial Intelligence – I’m Starting with a History Lesson

For the past few years, every genealogy conference I have attended has had multiple sessions on AI in genealogy. I must admit I was a little intimidated by the tern Artificial Intelligence when it came to my family history research. Then I thought maybe I should know exactly what AI is before I decide if this is something I want to add or not add to my research. And with just a little research, I soon discovered that AI has been quietly woven into my daily routine for decades.

When I first heard about AI a few years ago, I immediately thought of modern tools like ChatGPT or Microsoft Copilot. These types of technologies have certainly brought AI to the forefront and to everyday conversations, but the truth is artificial intelligence has been a part of our everyday lives for much longer than most of us realize.

The term itself was coined in 1956 by computer scientist, John McCarthy, during a conference at Dartmouth College. At the time, AI referred broadly to the idea of machines being able to perfom tasks that would normally require human intelligence such as learning, problem-solving, recognizing patterns, and making decisions.

My family in the 1950 US Census

Many of us have interacted with AI without labeling it as such. When iRobot introduced the Rooma in 2002, it used sensors and programming to “learn” a room and adjust its cleaning patterns. In 2011, Amazon’s Alexa brought voice recognition into our homes, allowing people to ask questions, set reminders, and control devices using natural speech. GPS systems, Google Maps, and Apple’s Siri all relay on AI driven algorithms to interpret data, predict routes, and respond to human input. Even smart watches use AI to monitor health patterns, while banks us AI behind the scenes to detect fraud and unusual account activity.

Family historians have benefited from AI long before it became a popular topic of discission. Projects involving the transcription of the 1950 US Census relied on machine learning tools to read and convert handwritten records into searchable text. Handwriting analysis technologies help interpret difficult or damaged documents. Large scale indexing projects across genealogy websites use automated systems to make historical records easier to search.

Although many conversations about artificial intelligence are often centered around chatbots and generative tools, that is only one part of a much larger picture. AI is technology that has been gradually integrated into how we live, work, and uncover our family history.