Podcast appearances and mentions of Steve Little

It is never too late to chase a dream, even one that has waited decades for its turn. My guest, Evan Katz, built a career in journalism, public finance, and local government before taking an unexpected path into professional baseball. After first playing organized baseball at age 45, Evan became a professional player at 61 and later coached professional baseball at 69. We talk about how fear can become motivation, why setbacks can be powerful learning opportunities, and how skills gained across a lifetime can prepare us for challenges we never expected to face. Evan also shares what he learned from calling himself the “least qualified coach in professional baseball,” and how listening, mentoring, and supporting others became some of his greatest strengths. His story is a wonderful reminder that personal growth, career change, and lifelong learning do not come with an expiration date. Highlights: 02:47 – How family work ethic shaped Evan's drive. 11:26 – How fear can become motivation. 13:08 – Why setbacks can become learning opportunities. 35:06 – What local government taught Evan about growth. 42:29 – Why he started playing baseball at 45. 53:37 – How he became a professional baseball coach at 69 About the Guest: Evan grew up in Brookline, Massachusetts two miles from Fenway Park in the 1960s and quickly learned the emotional highs and lows of being a Red Sox fan.  When the Red Sox won the World Series in 2004, after an 86-year championship drought, he rang church bells to celebrate. After a long award-winning career in municipal and public school finance in Massachusetts, and raising a family of four with his wife Liz, Evan began his late-life baseball career in earnest at age 65.  He was an assistant high school coach for three years, and documented the team's Massachusetts state championship in the story “No Earbuds in the Outfield.” Evan Katz's pro baseball career began at age 61 when he pitched for the White Sands Pupfish of the independent Pecos League in 2017. When euphoria subsided and his infinity ERA began to sting, Evan returned to the Pecos League at age 67. With the Austin Weirdos he became one of the oldest pitchers ever to start a minor league game and lowered his ERA to 29.25 After an aborted stint as pitching coach with the Roswell Invaders in 2024, Evan returned to the Pecos League in 2025 as bullpen coach of the North Platte 80s. As the 80's scout he recruited players for the second-year Nebraska team.  As bullpen coach he supported the North Platte pitching staff which anchored the team's 27-21 record and helped the team reach the second round of the playoffs. And this despite just three years as a high school coach, and no college coaching experience. There were more than 2000 coaches among nearly 300 major, minor and independent pro baseball teams and Evan was the least qualified. To share his second career in baseball and other inspiring baseball stories, Evan manages his baseball website “Baseball by the Sea Media.” It includes exclusive feature stories plus biographies and game stories published by the Society for American Baseball Research. It also links to the 2024 award-winning two-season podcast he co-hosted with Bruce McClure, “Baseball's Last Frontier: Stories from the Pecos League.” Ways to connect with Evan**:** https://sites.google.com/view/baseballbythesea/home https://www.linkedin.com/in/evan-katz-351554b/ About the Host: Michael Hingson is a New York Times best-selling author, international lecturer, and Chief Vision Officer for accessiBe. Michael, blind since birth, survived the 9/11 attacks with the help of his guide dog Roselle. This story is the subject of his best-selling book, Thunder Dog. Michael gives over 100 presentations around the world each year speaking to influential groups such as Exxon Mobile, AT&T, Federal Express, Scripps College, Rutgers University, Children's Hospital, and the American Red Cross just to name a few. He is Ambassador for the National Braille Literacy Campaign for the National Federation of the Blind and also serves as Ambassador for the American Humane Association's 2012 Hero Dog Awards. https://michaelhingson.com https://www.facebook.com/michael.hingson.author.speaker/ https://twitter.com/mhingson https://www.youtube.com/user/mhingson https://www.linkedin.com/in/michaelhingson/ Thanks for listening! Thanks so much for listening to our podcast! If you enjoyed this episode and think that others could benefit from listening, please share it using the social media buttons on this page. Do you have some feedback or questions about this episode? Leave a comment in the section below! Subscribe to the podcast If you would like to get automatic updates of new podcast episodes, you can subscribe to the podcast on Apple Podcasts or Stitcher. You can subscribe in your favorite podcast app. You can also support our podcast through our tip jar https://tips.pinecast.com/jar/unstoppable-mindset . Leave us an Apple Podcasts review Ratings and reviews from our listeners are extremely valuable to us and greatly appreciated. They help our podcast rank higher on Apple Podcasts, which exposes our show to more awesome listeners like you. If you have a minute, please leave an honest review on Apple Podcasts. Transcription Notes: Michael Hingson  00:04 What if the biggest thing holding you back isn't what's in front of you, but rather what you believe? Welcome to Unstoppable Mindset, where inclusion, diversity, and the unexpected meet. I'm your host, Michael Hingston, speaker, author, and advocate for inclusion and possibilities. This podcast explores how the beliefs we carry shape the way we live, lead, and connect with others. Each week, I talk with people who challenge assumptions, face adversity head-on, and show what's possible when we choose curiosity over fear. Together, we focus on mindset, resilience, and the small shifts that lead to meaningful change. Let's get started. Hi, everyone, and welcome to another Unstoppable Mindset podcast episode today. We get to chat with Evan Katz, and Evan's got an interesting life, especially since, if you will, he started the second part of his life, or maybe it's not the second, maybe it's later, of being a professional baseball coach at the age of 61. Well, we're going to hear about that. Evan lives in Massachusetts, in Swampscott, grew up in Brookline, which was very close to where the Red Sox play. I'm sure he's got lots of stories that we get to talk about with that. But anyway, Evan, I want to welcome you to Unstoppable Mindset. We're really glad you're here. Evan Katz  01:42 Thanks, Michael. I really appreciate the invitation. I I think that I'm excited to be part of a show with with with the theme that that you emphasize because I think that that when you reached out to me to ask if I was interested in in sharing some of my life experiences, I realize that there's a there's an unstoppable part of my mindset that has allowed me to achieve some things I didn't think were going to be possible. Michael Hingson  02:10 There you go. Well, you know, a lot of times we plan, and what we plan doesn't always necessarily go exactly the way we thought. But that's okay. It's it's a question what we do with it and what we learn from it. I suppose why don't we start by you telling us a little bit maybe about the early Evan growing up and and all that. And I know that you had mentioned that you think you actually got your kind of unstoppable mindset attitude from your parents and all that. So if you want to talk about that as as we go, you're welcome to. But anyway, why don't you start by telling us a little bit about the early Evan, if you will. Evan Katz  02:42 Sure. Well, you know, as you mentioned, I grew up outside of Boston in the town of Brookline, which is about two miles from Fenway Park. I'm a baby boomer. My my parents worked really hard, and they they worked hard to get their first house. They worked hard to fix it up. My mother was at home. My father worked in his parents' hardware store and was always fixing up the house. We ended up upgrading houses because of all the work that he did. And my mother, although she wasn't working, you know, she was involved in local politics, trying to improve the schools. And one of the stories I told when she passed away a number of years ago that she was so effective about mobilizing people to make changes in the school system. One of the school principals said to somebody else, "Get that Pawnee cats off the phone, Michael Hingson  03:34 because of course Evan Katz  03:35 at the time telephone was the only way to connect with people. But you know she had her unstoppable mindset in terms of making changes in public education in Brookline, my dad in terms of living the dream that he had for his family, and I really think that that in my own way I picked up that same hard worth it work ethic, and it's popped up along the way throughout my my life and my career. I Michael Hingson  04:00 I know what you mean. I know my parents were somewhat the same way. My dad worked at. Well, we moved to California when I was five, and before we moved, we were in Chicago. And he and my uncle owned a TV repair shop, and my dad left that to move to California. Wanted to do that anyway, but he began working at a government installation, was called Plant 42, and then later transferred to Edwards Air Force Base. My mom stayed home for a while. She actually helped sell real estate, helped sell some of the houses on the street where we moved because they were they were brand new, and the real estate people trusted her, so she she did some of that. Don't know what she earned or how all that worked, but but she did okay. But my dad worked, and I I feel very blessed. They they clearly taught me a lot, and I value very much their work ethic. I know what you're talking about. Evan Katz  05:01 Well, family is a great resource, whether it's your immediate family or extended family. And also, again, at the time that that I was growing up, most of our extended family lived right in the area, so there was a lot of connecting with cousins and uncles and grandparents. And I think that had its own way of shaping because we had a pretty hardworking, determined family, and I think that got passed on again, not just in my parents, but from my extended family as well. We Michael Hingson  05:28 had aunts and uncles and cousins. A lot of them were in Chicago. Then aunt and uncle and their two boys and our cousins moved out to California, but it was long after we moved. And then our next closest relative was actually up in the San Francisco area. Aunt Bella and Uncle Oscar owned a shoe store, and but and there were some other people who we called aunts. I'm not sure that they actually were, but aunts and uncles. But they they lived in the L.A. area. But most of our relatives were not very close by. Well, that's that's fine, but value the relationships nonetheless. So what was what was school like for you? Well, elementary school and high school and so on. Evan Katz  06:22 Well, I went to the local elementary school, and as I think, as I as I suggested, it was one of the schools that was being neglected by the town. My mother and her friends advocated for equal resources. It was also during the time where Christmas carols were being sung in school, and it was not something that my parents thought was appropriate. I was Jewish. There were other Jewish kids in school, not very many, and just didn't seem like this was the thing that should be happening, given where our country was at the time. And so I did well in elementary school. I mean, the interesting thing was I skipped kindergarten, so I was always the youngest and the slowest on the playground, and it actually contributed to my not participating in sports through my early years and into into high school, which we will we'll hear more about that later. But I got a good education. I loved numbers. I learned in high school after I had horrible year my sophomore year writing. I was determined to learn. I took a couple of English classes from mr. Carey at Newton South High School. Learned to become a good writer, and ultimately that led to my writing on college newspapers and becoming a newspaper reporter. My first job out of college. So, you know, the kind of thing when you go through school, you try to figure out, you know, what are the things that that that sing to you. And first, it was numbers for me, and I ended up going into a career in public finance, and then the writing, which I ended up becoming a newspaper reporter, put that on hold. And about 10 years ago, or eight years ago, I started a baseball social media website, and I ended up writing baseball stories. So, so here I am in my my my formative years in school, taming numbers, becoming a CFO in the public sector, and becoming a good writer-they got me through life. Michael Hingson  08:33 How did you end up being able to skip kindergarten? Evan Katz  08:37 That was back in the day. They didn't have minimum age requirements. If you pass the test, you you got to go right to first grade. Michael Hingson  08:44 Ah, well, I know I went to kindergarten in Chicago, and you started in Chicago at age four. Then we moved to California, and the problem is in California you couldn't start kindergarten till age five, but I had had a year of kindergarten already, but they wouldn't let me just go to first grade because I was only five, so I ended up with two years of kindergarten. And I'm not sure that second year was all that exciting for me, because kids were drawing and doing all sorts of stuff that I wouldn't do being blind. But we coped, and we got through it. I also did love numbers and so on, and my dad taught me how to do math in my head, so I was really doing well with math. And my my mother helped me with spelling tests and reading other material to me, and so on. So we got through it, and again, they took that on without any remorse at all, which, as I think back on it, was just part of their gutsiness and their unstoppability. Because the doctors told them that no blind child could ever amount to anything, and they were going to prove the doctors wrong. And I would like to think that they did, but we. We went through it, and I didn't actually. I learned Braille when I was in kindergarten in Chicago, but then didn't have access to Braille till the fourth grade out here in California. Yep. Yeah. Well, but my my parents read and kept me up with everything, but still it was a problem. But then I got Braille again, and so it all worked out, but I, but I, but I know what you're saying. It still gets back to the work ethic, and our parents were gonna do everything they could to make sure we all succeeded, didn't they? Evan Katz  10:32 Well, and I think also, Michael, you've touched on it, and I did as well. You know, there are things, there are areas we go into, whether it's school or work or relationships, we're blessed with certain talents and traits, but we also have areas that are not our strengths, and we're always having to work to figure out how to how to compensate for our areas of call it weakness or limitations, and also how to allow our strengths to to overcome those and and then to help generate success. Michael Hingson  11:05 Yeah, and and we do need to do that. And and the reality is that we're all generally better at some things than we are at other things, but we can make it work if we if we try. I wrote and published with a colleague, Carrie Wagg Kent, two years ago a book called *Live Like a Guide Dog* which is all about learning to control fear and its life lessons that that tell us that fear doesn't need to overwhelm us or, as I put it, blind us. That that we can use fear as a very powerful tool to help us, and I mention that because there are so many things that we fear in the world, and most of them we don't have any control over. I mean, I know that there are things that that I don't get to do right now that other people do because they can see different things. But at the same time, I have gifts that most of those people never either learn to use or choose to use or can use, and so we all have to work together to make the world successful. And I think that's the big issue. Evan Katz  12:11 Well, I think your point about fear is really important because we we all have fears, we all have worries, and fear can be paralyzing, and but it can also be motivating, and I think it's important that if you get into a situation that that you're concerned about or worried about, you should acknowledge that you're in something. Maybe you're over your head, and we'll talk about my coaching a professional team at age 69 without ever having coached college baseball, going right from high school coaching to professional coaching, that was the hardest job of my life, and that fear motivated me to figure out how am I going to come up with those compensating skills? How am I going to be able to succeed? Because I want this to succeed not just for me, but for the players around me. So, so fear. It's important to to recognize it, and so that you know that it's there, but also be able to take advantage of what fear can motivate you to do. Michael Hingson  13:13 Well, and fear doesn't need to paralyze you unless you let it. And that's the the big issue: is that we don't learn generally how to control fear and to use fear in a positive way. We worry about so many things over which we'll never have control because we just don't, and we let all of that worry us, and that that certainly adds so much to the fear levels that we face, and if we would only learn to just focus on what we can control, that doesn't mean you don't be aware of other things. But don't worry about the things over which you don't have control. It will help your life a whole lot. Evan Katz  13:53 And another aspect to that is, and I and I learned this, and as I mentioned, I worked in the public sector for for for almost 40 years, and I came up with the phrase at one point, and I I don't remember the circumstances. And somebody said, "I don't know if this is going to work. I don't know if we have the money. I don't know we have the people. This may not be a good solution, or the operation may not work. And I said, "Well, I think we have to see if it fails because if it fails, then we're going to learn something. Obviously, we didn't want anyone to lose a job or to get hurt. It wasn't failing in that regard, but but the you have to have enough courage so that if something isn't going to work, you can use that as as a learning opportunity as well, so you can't have fear of failure either. Because then we can all look back. You're old enough. I'm old enough to look back on our lives and see those learning moments. Many of them came from times that didn't work out so well, Michael Hingson  14:55 which doesn't mean that we failed. And I think that's the big issue. I think we have to deal with. Failure is is something that we have to really get over thinking about because failure isn't really it. What what it is is that things didn't work out the way we planned, but that doesn't mean that we failed, which means we just can't go on. We're we're stuck. It's it's a learning experience, and that is part of what dealing with fear is all about. Is rather than worrying about it. All right, so this didn't work. Don't fret. Don't worry. Don't panic. What did you learn from it? How do we get beyond that? And that's the thing that we generally tend not to do very much: is to do a lot of self-analysis in our own lives. Take time at night to step back and look at what worked during the day, what didn't work, and the what didn't works weren't failures, but they were learning opportunities if we take advantage of our own skills to develop our mind muscle to do that. Evan Katz  15:57 Absolutely, I Michael Hingson  15:58 think that's that's so important. Well, so for you, you you where did you go to college? Evan Katz  16:08 I graduated from Newton South High School. We went from Brookline to Newton in the 70s. I went to a small college in Western New York, Alfred University, for two years, and ultimately graduated from Colby College in Maine in 1977. As I mentioned, I wrote for both the newspapers at Alford and Colby, and that's where I got my my my journalistic experience back then. Writing for college newspapers was was a big deal back then, Michael Hingson  16:39 yeah, Evan Katz  16:39 and that worked out really well. I was going to go into teaching. That was my original plan. I did some internships in college. I even, when I was at Colby, I took a semester and helped out at a small fourth grade class in neighboring Oakland, Maine, helping out kids doing lessons in the in the corridor and in the back of the room to help them with their math, but when I left college, I had done enough writing, primarily sports, that I decided to to follow journalism. But the college years were really an eye opener for me. As I mentioned, I was a year young. You know, I was the drinking age was 18, and I was still only 17 and a half when I went to college, but somehow my IDs got me through into the pub. But it was a really eye-opening experience going to college in New York. I'd been in Massachusetts my whole life and was in a small town in Western New York, and it was just so eye-opening to see a part of the country and people that were very unlike where I lived in terms of Alfred. Most of the kids were from New York, and then going to Maine, they were more from New England. But it was just a real eye-opening experience. I think we all go through that in our late teens and early 20s, really beginning to discover, you know, who we are, what situations are we comfortable in? We test ourselves. We do crazy things, and it all turned out okay because I was able to get a job right out of college. Michael Hingson  18:11 So teaching was your plan, but it didn't go that way. Evan Katz  18:16 No, it didn't. And interestingly enough, I was looking back through my father's memorabilia when he died, and I think I knew this, but I was reminded that he wanted to teach originally, and he actually was a mentor to many people during his working career. And he took great pride and went to the Peace Corps actually for a number of years in his 60s, and so you know the whole teaching mentoring thing ran in our family, so I guess it's kind of ironic that I ended up coaching baseball at age 65 as a as a teacher and a mentor. But but the college experience, you know, I still think about it. I just sold my vinyl records. It was it was a little traumatic, but I did sell my vinyl records recently because I can listen to everything over the internet now, and but that was a water watershed moment selling my vinyl that I listened to in college for all those years. Michael Hingson  19:14 I still have mine from working at the campus radio station. I got a lot of records back here, and I I am somewhat of the opinion of the I don't know whether I would call them snobs, but I still think the best quality is still vinyl. Evan Katz  19:30 Well, as you know, Michael, one of the best attributes of vinyl records is when they were originally the songs were compiled and sequenced. It was they were designed to listen through the whole side of an album. Michael Hingson  19:44 Yeah, Evan Katz  19:44 and I mean obviously Pink Floyd was classic, and I'm sure that there were others that come to mind that I can't think of. And I was a big fan of the Doobie Brothers, and to this day I'll still turn off my radio in the car and put on a couple of Doobie Brothers albums and listen to them straight. Same with Chicago. It just the music was meant to be arranged, you know, for half an hour or 35 minutes, not just three and a half minutes. And I think a little bit of that has been has been lost with today's music. Michael Hingson  20:13 Yeah. Well, I think there's there's truth to that. And I even go back further. I've been a fan for many many years of big bands, primarily Swing, Benny Goodman, and and so on, but also doop and early rock. But I and I like some of the other rock. But I've never been a great heavy metal fan. But that's okay. Some people like it, and then that's fine too. But I really enjoy my records as well, which is a lot of fun. Yeah, I Evan Katz  20:42 did listen to Van Halen cassettes driving. Somehow, a Van Halen arrangement wasn't quite the same as Chicago. No, Michael Hingson  20:50 no, it is a little bit different. There's no doubt about that. So, what was your job that you ended up getting out of college? Evan Katz  20:57 I ended up worked as a stringer, which I don't even know if there are any anymore, but I think I got paid 10 cents an inch for covering soccer for the Newton graphic. I covered the Newton South soccer team, and also I I don't know how much an hour I got. I covered the Westin Wildcats. That's a small town west of Boston for the Westin Town Crier. That's how I got started in journalism, and I ultimately was hired as a part-time reporter by the Walpole Times, which is small town southwest of Boston. And I eventually became a full-time reporter there, covering town government, writing feature stories, learned how to use a 35 millimeter camera. We we had our own darkroom there, and I thought it was so much fun going out to meetings, interviewing people, compiling stories. It was just it wasn't like work. It was it was it was exciting, and it paid the bills, and I was living on my own for the first time. Michael Hingson  22:06 That didn't get you to graduate to things like going into television on WEEI and doing sports for them, huh? Evan Katz  22:13 No, the the the written word at the time, and even today still is is where I am. Although, as I joke with my friends, just put a microphone in front of me, and I'll start talking. Michael Hingson  22:26 So that's okay. Well, so how long did you write? And then what happened Evan Katz  22:32 was, so as I mentioned, my mother was very involved in local government, and I grew up in Brookline. And the interesting thing was, I was covering the planning board and the school committee in Walpole, and I'm I'm going to the meetings and I'm listening to them talking about the issues that they're dealing with, and I'm thinking to myself, so this is what 1979. I'm 23 years old, and I'm thinking, I mean, I can do better than this. I mean, listening to these these people talk about how they're going to solve problems, and I said, I think I can really help. So, the local legislator from Walpole, his name was Frank Woodward, had an opening in his office, and I started working as a legislative aide for him, working in the state house. It was very exciting. My mother was so proud. When some one morning in March, I don't know if it was 1979 or 1980, and I walked up the steps of the State House. Big blue sky in Boston. It was a big golden dome. I'll never forget. I walked up the front steps, looked up at the golden dome and the big blue sky in March of whatever year that was, so excited. My mother was so proud. My dad was too, obviously. And then I got involved in government, and that's where it all started. Working in the state house to really begin to understand the importance of issues. You know, it wasn't just local government, but how the state government intersected with the federal government, and how much how how important government is to making people's lives safe and protected. Michael Hingson  24:07 Yeah, and I think that is that is something that although there is certainly a lot going on today that is not necessarily the the model of what government ought to be, probably, but still, government and what the House of Representatives and the Senate do at the federal level, and what happens at the at the state house and in the state government is really important. And I wish more people would seriously get involved with it, and and do it from an ethical standpoint. But you know, we, I guess, we go through through different kinds of eras of how things work. Evan Katz  24:54 Well, it's interesting in the tumult that we're going through here. I recently had a chance. Last month to go to England with my wife. I hadn't been there for a while, and and I was really struck by how the history dates back centuries and centuries and centuries prior. You know, to 1066, I guess is one of the lines in the sand or the dirt in England. But when they started the more modern era, and what I was really struck by when you think about a country like England and all the difficulties, all the changes, all the times that they were under threat from external forces, internal forces, all the chaos, and somehow they've survived. And I think this is one of the real attributes of Great Britain. And I just began to think about what we're going through here, and I think I have to be hopeful in the same way. Michael Hingson  25:56 Yeah, I agree that Evan Katz  25:57 that that we've been here for 250 years. I know it's short compared to England. Supposedly, one author says that republics die after 250 years. I don't know if I buy that necessarily, but but the point is that that that I think somehow, some way, we're going to survive this because other countries have been through much more over much longer periods of time, and here they are. And 2026 is stable, viable countries. Michael Hingson  26:25 Yeah, and they're still there, and they're going to be there. And I agree with you. I think that we're we're going to continue, and maybe republics die after 250 years, but it doesn't mean they have to. And I think that's that's part of it. So what did you what did you do in terms of you you went to work in the state house or what did you do? Evan Katz  26:48 And I was a legislative aide, so we would get information on legislation, take a lot of constituent phone calls because at the time the only time only way you got a hold of your legislator was either make a phone call. Of course, I think from Walpole to Boston, it might have been a toll call at that time. So maybe we got more letters from Walpole. I don't know, but constituent constituent concerns, working with state agencies to resolve things, and and it just got me acquainted with with with how government works, and it just gave me an appreciation for what it takes to make government work for for the the residents of Walpole and a couple other nearby towns, and also you get to see the the leaders of the state at that time the the Senate President and the the Speaker of the House, and you get to understand a little bit more how they show leadership and what skills and attributes work well, and what ones in your mind don't work well. But the whole bottom line is, you know, how is it working for the constituents? And to me, that became more and more important. Is what's the bottom line here? It's not about power. It's not about success at the legislator. The bottom line is the impact on people. Michael Hingson  28:13 Well, I remember that when I lived in Winthrop, every year I would go with people from the National Federation of the Blind, we went to Washington every year. Five, 600 of us descended on Washington and visited all of our legislators. And I remember actually once having the opportunity to set up an appointment and meet with Tip O'Neill. What an amazing guy he was! Yeah. But then also there was a new congressman who had just joined, Ed Markey. Evan Katz  28:45 Oh sure. Michael Hingson  28:46 Now look where he is. He's but but it was it was so much fun seeing Congress in action and actually being a part of it, talking about different kinds of issues, and of course it got to meet Ted Kennedy and also Paul Songas along the way as well. And I and I also was involved in things in in Massachusetts because one of the problems we had in the early '80s in Massachusetts and around the country was that blind people couldn't buy life insurance because the life insurance companies said we're a higher risk, we'll have a higher mortality rate, and finally, to keep the story short, we discovered that unlike what insurance companies say they do, which is they make their determinations always based on actuarial statistics, evidentiary data, and they create mathematical models based on evidence. They had absolutely not one single solitary thing to show that blind people or other people with disabilities were a higher risk than anyone else. So I worked back in the late 70s, early 80s with I don't you may. I've known him, Al Evan Katz  30:02 Sagasi. I recognize the name. Michael Hingson  30:03 Yeah, and so he he helped us shepherd a bill through that eventually eliminated discrimination in dealing with life insurance in Massachusetts, and and actually was something that passed in every state that all all the states dealt with that because the insurance companies were just playing games, which was so unfortunate. So when I was growing up, my parents couldn't insure me. When I was in college, I couldn't buy life insurance, and and eventually it got addressed. But it was, and it still is fascinating to think back and be a part of making a difference and really working to help constituents and help the legislature. Evan Katz  30:48 Well, there's a great example of numbers not being in action. You know, they're hiding behind perceived numbers, and then you do do a little bit of digging, and you find out that it's not quite as fact-based as they made it sound, Michael Hingson  31:02 yeah, and in fact there was no fact, and but still we worked through it, but the process was, I think, and still is for me one of the most fascinating things to to be able to go and be a part of dealing with things and and hopefully getting legislators to deal with issues and I'm not sure that there's as much of that that's happening today with everything going on but it'll come back. Evan Katz  31:34 Not not in Washington anyway. I think you've got to look to the states more than Washington. Washington's an anomaly right now. Michael Hingson  31:42 Yeah, Washington is really a big problem, and and but it'll it'll it'll switch at some point. I hope. I think it's going to have to, but but we'll see how it goes. If Speaker 1  31:55 you enjoy Unstoppable Mindset and would like to help us continue bringing these conversations to you each week, we've created a way for you to support the show. Your contribution helps us cover production costs and continue sharing stories, insights, and ideas that inspire people to live with purpose and possibility. If supporting the podcast feels right for you, you'll find the link in the show notes, thank you for being part of the Unstoppable Mindset Community. Michael Hingson  32:27 So you you went to work and you were legislative aide. How long did you do that? Evan Katz  32:32 Actually, not not. I think it was a little over a year because I ended up working on a referendum campaign. There's a thing in Massachusetts to limit property taxes, that's called Prop Two and a Half, that passed in 1980. I ended up working for Representative Woodward and a couple of other reps. There was an alternative on the tried to get on the ballot as an alternative to Two and a Half that wouldn't be quite as dramatic. Although I think, looking back as someone in the public sector, I think it's a good thing that Prop two and a half passed, but I got involved in working on a referendum campaign as an alternative to Prop two and a half. It didn't pass, and then at that point, I decided needed to get some professional training, and I went to get my graduate degree in public administration from the Kennedy School at Harvard, so I would have more credentials and I could really get into local government, and that really opened the door. Once I got my master's degree, I ended up working for the state. I think I mentioned my mother and family were from were from Brookline. We were acquainted with Governor Dukakis, and my mother worked actually very close with Govern was very close with Governor Dukakis, and he really encouraged me to go to graduate school, and I ended up going to the Kennedy School. And from there, I went and worked for his administration. The Massachusetts Department of Revenue started a division to support local government finance. It was really very innovative at the time in the early '80s. You know, cities and towns were separate. The state was just a regulatory reagency, and Governor Dukakis wanted to create an agency that could be a resource to local government to help them make better decisions. We created a municipal data bank to try to gather information to get to gather statistical information and ultimately help guide cities and towns to budget better, to plan their capital budgets better. And I was involved in the formation of that bureau in the Mass Department of Revenue. It was called the Division of Local Services, and I ended up working there in the early '80s, to really get a feel for how state government worked, state aid, and all that sort of thing, and then I learned enough there and decided to go out and see what it was like myself to work in a city or town, and that that's was around 1980. So I got my training at is in graduate school, learned more in state government, and then in the mid '80s went out to work in town halls and and city halls, and that that talk about fear, that that was frightening. Michael Hingson  35:18 It was a new experience. Evan Katz  35:20 Absolutely, you know, you you you you're in the state house, and there's there's 240 state reps and 40 senators, I think, all kinds of legislative aides. You're working in a state agency, and it's a whole bunch of 20 something and 30 something colleagues and bosses and this and that. There's always someone you can ask, always someone that can support you. You go to a town hall, and there's there's three clerks and a bunch of select board members. In Massachusetts, there are boards of selectmen in the small towns, or the select board now. Back then, it was select men, but you're on your own out there, and it's very, very different. You know, having a bunch of colleagues to support you in the big city when you're out in the small town of Groton, 40 miles from Boston, with 7000 people, and you're the resource in town hall. It's a lot different. Michael Hingson  36:18 I was just going to say that you you became the resource that people look to. Evan Katz  36:24 Yeah, and and so you take your professional training and you begin to develop some of those personal skills. And how do you relate to people? How do you gather information? How do you recover from from your mistakes? How do you make sure you have enough successes so that you got a good success to mistake ratio? But it's it it is very scary. I mean, I was what how old in 1986? So I was 30 years old, and it never. And I wanted to work in a small town, and I did, but it was a real, real eye-opening experience. But by the same token, you know, one of our biggest fears-you're the only person. One of the greatest attributes to the situation was you're immersed in everything. You learn everything. You learn about the police department, the fire department, which was a call department at that time. You know, if there was a fire, all the firemen, there might have been a couple of women as well, went to some went to the station to get the truck, and some drove in their cars to the scene of the fire, and and and you get a small town with one police officer on duty, you know, from from 11 to seven, you got a water department with two employees. You really get a feel for what's important and what isn't, and how do you make the system go, and what do you do in an emergency, and how do you plan for the future? And so it was it was it was frightening at one level because you're on your own and you're learning a brand new thing, but at the same time you're immersing yourself so deeply, and you're learning so much that that that that you're growing, you know, professionally and personally at a very very fast rate. Michael Hingson  38:16 And although you may or may not realize it at the time, those fears that that you started with slowly would be dissolving away because you were learning how to deal with things, and you were discovering that you had the ability to deal with things, and so you became less afraid in a positive way. Evan Katz  38:37 Right. Well, you know, you all know that the cycles in in businesses and cities and towns, and it's all in an annual cycle, the budget cycle, and you know you get through the first year and you start doing it again, and you're doing it again, and you really then you begin to expand your knowledge base. You're willing to to to experiment a little bit more, and and you're growing again at a very fast rate because you're able to do more and more that you weren't able to do when you first got there. Michael Hingson  39:10 Did you ever run for any office? Evan Katz  39:13 Actually, I did. When I left Groton, I finance was my area of interest, as as I mentioned earlier. I was hired by the city of Medford, which is just north of Boston, up Route 93, probably I don't maybe 810 miles north. And when I was working there, I was the city's finance director. You talk about culture shock, so I go from the small town of Groton with seven people to a to a 50,000 the city of 50,000 with a with a palatial city hall right off Route 93 and but I was chosen for because of my background in finance. And when I was working there, I decided that the town of Groton might benefit from my experience as an elected official. So I was working in Medford as finance director, and I ran for assessor in Groton to get started. Elected assessors to value properties and administered the taxes, and then ultimately I ran for select board a couple years after that. Michael Hingson  40:27 Were you elected? Evan Katz  40:29 I did. Yeah, I won. Okay. And here's another thing that I learned. You know, I haven't always seen elected boards, whether it was the select board or city councils or legislators, you see elected officials in action at meetings and talking about problems and making phone calls, but you forget there's a lot of other work that goes on behind the scenes when you're at home at night and when you run into somebody on the street. And so I was I was very prepared for the for the technical aspects of it, the problem solving, but I forgot about the time that it takes when people call you or have a have a have a problem with a nearby dog, or someone put up a fence, or the traffic on my street is going too fast. You have to call people. You got to follow up. You got to again. Back in the old days, it's all by telephone. So the amount of time that it took to resolve problems and have meetings, I forgot about the the the extra time that it takes when you're an elected official to do that behind the scenes stuff. But but I enjoy doing that as well. Michael Hingson  41:41 Yeah, I'll bet. And you know, it it is just it it you figure out that that's part of what you have to do. And again, I think the big issue is in figuring all that out is learning to recognize that's part of what you have to do, and accepting that that's definitely part of the job, and not trying to blow it off, not trying to get angry at people, which all too often happens today, I think more than it than it needs to. But it is part of the job. It's all part of the job, and no matter what, that hasn't really changed. Evan Katz  42:19 And I think it's I think it's in any job, and I think people have perceptions about certain types of jobs, whether it's you're you're you're a plumber, a truck driver, a lawyer. You know, people understand the responsibilities at the surface level and the visible level, but they're they're not as aware of what goes on behind the scenes, what it takes to to get things going, and and I think that's probably not and maybe underappreciated in some situations about what it takes to to to do things behind the scenes that are not as exciting, where there's more drudgery, and and and the amount of time that it takes to get you into the seat of the truck, to get you to have a meeting with clients, if you're some kind of professional, if you're a doctor, there's there's there's a lot more to any job, and I think that that that it's important to recognize it for ourselves. You know, it's not just the let's call it the glamorous part of the job. Michael Hingson  43:29 Yeah, Evan Katz  43:30 there's the behind the scenes part of the job, and the same goes for all jobs. And I think it's important to remember that. Michael Hingson  43:36 I agree. Well, you did all this work, and you kept doing it for quite a while. So, what got you into baseball, other than being a fan? But you know, Evan Katz  43:46 well, loyal Red Sox fan, been to Fenway hundreds of times, as I mentioned earlier. Was started school a year early, so I never played sports, and my kids in my 40s had finished little league, and they were all done with their sports careers at that point. And I decided I wanted to play baseball at age 45. Michael Hingson  44:14 There you go. I had Evan Katz  44:15 never played. I had never played little league. I never played high school. Never played college. And at age 45, a friend of mine who I grew up with in Brookline, he encouraged me to go to a baseball camp in Florida in 2002, and at that point, my my interest in baseball and my fandom in baseball expanded to becoming a a player and having to learn about the game as a player, not just as someone watching the game. Michael Hingson  44:47 And what did your wife think of that? Evan Katz  44:49 Well, my my wife will mention that my my wife Liz, our first date was on march 30, 2002, and that was the date. Of my first baseball practice in Massachusetts, so she has been there from the beginning of my baseball career. And if it wasn't for her one acceptance of it and her support of it, I never would have been able to achieve and enjoy all that all that I have, but she she is is is my biggest fan and supporter. Michael Hingson  45:29 That's great. She's a Red Sox fan, I would presume. Evan Katz  45:33 Yeah, Red Sox fan. Yep, and you know we watched them clinch it in 2004. We've been to Fenway together, and you know she, you know, like I played adult baseball, and and you know the when guys join, their spouses or girlfriends come the first for a bunch of games in the beginning, but then they just lose interest. Understandably, it's you know it's old man baseball. It's not like it is on TV. She she comes from time to time, but but she she's got her own life to live now. So that's okay. Michael Hingson  46:05 Well, so so tell me how baseball progressed for you. So you you started working at playing. Evan Katz  46:15 Yeah. So I went to this baseball camp in Florida, which I actually just came back from. It's called the Ponstellion Baseball Camp, and it's from a league in Washington, and they started going down for a week of what they call spring training. Well, for Washington, baseball starts a little earlier, Washington D.C. So we go down the end of January, and you know, getting on the field isn't too far away as long as there's no snow on the ground in the DC metro area. But I started going to that camp in 2002, and there was a group of professional coaches at this camp who were major league and minor league affiliated, and they have been coming to this camp since the beginning. This is now 2026. They've been going to the camp as long as as the longtime players, and so what happened was, you know, I was playing adult baseball, and there was a year where it rained a lot, and we had games postponed, and I'm driving around Fort Myers, and I think I was 60 years old at the time, so this would be 2016. And I said to myself, you know, what would be the chances that I could find a minor league team that would let me play, so I could live my dream of being a professional baseball player? And I grew up around in Brookline. I collected baseball cards. I played imaginary baseball games in my yard. Played wiffle ball with my friends. Watched the Red Sox on TV. You know, it's been in my blood since I was a little kid. And of course, many little kids want to be professional basketball players, hockey players, football players. Well, for me, it was baseball. So here I am, 60 years old, and I asked a couple of people at the camp. One of them was Stan Clyburn, played for the Angels in the 80s, and he's managed in the minor leagues for 1000s of games. He's still managing to this day. And Steve Little, who was a coach at the time with the Twins, I asked them, "Do you think I could find a minor league team that would allow me to play for them, so I could live my dream, play professional baseball? And they said, "Sure. Oh yeah, you you should give it a shot. And they gave me a couple names. Ultimately, it took me a year and a half, and I found the Pecos League, which is a low level of independent baseball. I got a hold of the commissioner. His name is Andrew Dunn, and I called him up in March. It turned out this would be March of 2017. I went out to my car at a lunch break from school. I had his phone number, and he answers the phone, "Hello, baseball. And I explain the situation, and he said, "You want to get in a game? We'll get you in a game. And that was that was in 2017. Michael Hingson  49:15 Wow! Evan Katz  49:16 And way it the way it turned out, he invited me out to play for the White Sands Pupfish the last weekend of the season, it had to be with teams that it wouldn't affect the playoffs. And I went out to White Sands, New Mexico, White Sands National Park is there. Alamogordo and the the White Sands Pupfish. I I pitched to two batters, walked one and hit one. I had one plate appearance and was called out on strikes. Didn't lift the bat off my shoulder. Too much fear, as I look back on it. But I became a professional baseball player at age 61. Michael Hingson  49:57 Well, so you got to live your dream. Evan Katz  50:00 Yep, Michael Hingson  50:00 and so after you pitched, what did you do? Evan Katz  50:04 Well, it was all very exciting, and I I actually was interviewed by Bill Littlefield on the NPR radio show Only a Game, talking about playing baseball at age 61, and my friends thought it was really neat and cool, and I had some pictures made, and I gave a lot of graph pictures to Stan Clyburn and Steve Little to thank them for inspiration, and it was all fun. But you know, in baseball, if you're a pitcher and you give up a run without getting anybody anybody out, you have an ERA, which is an earned run average. How many runs you give up in nine innings? Michael Hingson  50:43 Right. Evan Katz  50:43 I had an ERA of infinity. I'm in baseball reference with all these big known baseball players. I'm there with my my my stat line with an ERA of INF infinity, and I'm 65 years old, and I'm saying, man, I don't want to have an ERA of infinity. I don't want to retire with an ERA of infinity, so I got a hold of of Andrew Dunn again, and I said, Andrew, can I come out and pitch again? I want to get my ERA below infinity. I want to get somebody out. So it turns out in 2023, he assigned me to pitch for the Austin weirdos keep Austin weird, right? Keep Portland weird. Keep Burlington weird. You know, keep but whatever weird city you know they have their slogans of keeping the city weird. So Austin weirdos. And the interesting thing was that the weirdos that year in 2023, they had a home field in Austin, but it got burned out. They didn't they didn't have enough water, so they lost their home field. They turned into an all road team, and no player likes to drive through the Pecos League through the desert Southwest from Texas to Arizona, Michael Hingson  52:00 right Evan Katz  52:01 up to Kansas and Colorado for weeks on end. I get to the end of the season, the last weekend of the season in Alpine, Texas, to play the Alpine Cowboys, of course, in Texas, and the Austin Weirdos only have 11 players, and I can pitch. It's a Friday night, and there's a doubleheader on Saturday, and the manager decides, well, we got a guy here who hasn't pitched recently. He should start the game on Friday night. I get a text from the manager in the middle of the day. Evan, you're starting tonight, Derek Dominguez. Talk about no fear. Yeah, starting a 67-year-old pitcher against a lineup of 20-year, 25-year-olds, and I I started against the Alpine Cowboys, and talk about managing your fear. They have it's an old baseball stadium was built in the 1940s. It's got a grandstand behind home plate. You know, a couple things happen there. First of all, I get to the park early because the team was driving. They had to drive. This is the amazing thing. 1111, players. They had to drive 700 miles from the night before from Blackwell, Oklahoma, to Alpine. Michael Hingson  53:20 Wow. Evan Katz  53:22 The catcher comes in the dugout. Wonderful young man. You know, pitchers always worry who is going to catch them. Who's my catcher? And I'm in the dugout waiting, and a young man comes up to me, and he knows who I am, and he says, "I'm Marcus Bracy, and I'm catching you tonight. And the way he said that to me made me feel like he was going to take care of me, and we warmed up. I didn't have any fear. And one thing I did though, when I went out to the mound in the bottom of the first inning, and every inning after that, I made it to the fifth. By the way, I never looked up into the stands. I never wanted to see the crowd. I wanted to keep my eyes focused on this catcher, and that is what helped me get through. And I gave up two runs an inning into the fifth inning. And the interesting thing was that that that was about the team's average. The earned run average for the Austin Weirdos that year was 18 because they had lost so many players, they didn't have many pitchers, and I ended up for that game with an ERA of about 18. So I pitched the same as all the 25-year-old pitchers that pitched for Austin that year. Michael Hingson  54:39 There you go. That certainly is. That certainly is pretty cool. So, what year was that? Evan Katz  54:48 That was 2023. Michael Hingson  54:49 Okay. So, what's happened since? Evan Katz  54:52 Well, I was so taken by the Pecos League and some of the players there, and I had been coaching high school for three years. You know, I had. I had coached at Manchester Essex High School, just north of Boston. I had coached the pitchers and the catchers there. We won the state championship in 2022, and yeah, I saw I'd done a little bit of coaching. And I knew the Pecos League didn't have a lot of money. It didn't pay the players anything hardly. Players make less than $1,000 for most of the teams, and many of the coaches are volunteer coaches. And I asked one of the players; his name was Alex Westman, really nice, nice fellow. I met him for breakfast actually in the fall after the season. I was out visiting my my son in Arkansas. Met him in Missouri for breakfast, and I said, think, think the Pecos League could use a coach like me, and Alex is always an upbeat guy. And unfortunately, Alex was passed away a couple years ago in a tragic motorcycle accident. But I'll always be thankful for Alex for him saying to me, "Oh yeah, you should coach. So I got a hold of the commissioner. I I did coach for a few games for Roswell in 2024, but my mother-in-law took ill, and I had to come home. So last season I ended up teaming up with Todd Everleth, the manager of the North Platte '80s, who I had connected with during 2024 and introduced him to the league. He managed in North Platte, and I asked Todd if he could use a coach, and Todd invited me out to North Platte, Nebraska. And last summer, I was the bullpen coach. One of the hardest things I've ever done, if not the hardest, going from high school coaching to professional coaching at age 69, but somehow it was successful. I helped the pitchers. We ended up going to the the second round of the playoffs. We had a couple of guys called up to higher level leagues, and and it was a success. But but it was again one of the hardest things I've ever done, but at the same time, one of the most rewarding. Michael Hingson  57:04 That's pretty cool. You you did you did so much of that. So you also you've been coaching. So you've been coaching a fair amount over the last few years. You said I think at one point, you were the worst coach in 2025. Evan Katz  57:23 Oh right, not not the worst, close, the least qualified. Oh, the Michael Hingson  57:28 least qualified. Okay, right. Yeah, this is a good story. Evan Katz  57:31 So, so, so Todd and I, you know, Todd Everleth, we're driving his truck around the Midwest. I don't know, it's probably the second second or third road trip, but I'm I'm sitting there, and I'm really beginning to understand the credentials, my new Todd's credentials, and the credentials of the other coaches in in in the Pecos League, which, as I mentioned, is the lowest level of independent baseball. It's not connected to Major League Baseball, and I'm thinking to myself, there's got to be 1000s and 1000s of coaches in professional baseball, major leagues, minor leagues, other independent leagues. Here I am. I'm a coach in the Pecos League. I I have three years of high school coaching experience. I have got to be the least qualified coach in professional baseball. So I said, Todd, I think I'm the least qualified coach in professional baseball, and he he got a real kick out of that. Michael Hingson  58:30 Well, so the real question is, what's going to happen this year? What are you doing now? Evan Katz  58:35 Well, this year, you know, I I am definitely retiring from coaching, as I mentioned, you know, at my age, 69, coaching in professional baseball, you know, your your days start early. They go till late at night. You're traveling a lot in the Pecos League. We drove our own cars, so we drove over 7000 miles last summer. Michael Hingson  58:57 Wow! Evan Katz  58:57 And that that was on top of driving out to Nebraska and coming home, so over 10,000 miles over the course of the summer, way way too demanding. So, but what I'm what I'm doing, Michael, is I think that that I really have some some lessons to share and some experiences to share. And as I as I joked with Todd and some of the other players, the the pitchers out in the bullpen. We were sitting out in the bullpen one night, and the pitchers knew that I wasn't didn't have a lot of experience. And once we all got used to each other, we had a really good time out there. And I'd said to them, I said, I think I'm going to write a book, and the book is going to be the least qualified coach in professional baseball, a survival guide, basically telling the story of how somebody with the least credentials of all the professional coaches was able to figure out how to cope with the challenges and ultimately support the pitching staff. And contribute to the teams going 27 wins and 21 losses, making it the second round of the playoffs, and having players called up to higher level leagues. I think there's some lessons there to share to inspire other people, and so that that's my plan. I'm hoping to do a little bit of motivational speaking. I'm planning to write a book and tell the story of the least qualified coach in professional baseball. Michael Hingson  1:00:28 But you brought a lot of life experience to coaching. Evan Katz  1:00:31 Absolutely, absolutely. I mean, this is one of the things I had to figure out. I knew my technical background was limited, so I had to figure out how can I support these players, how can I be available, and I figured out where to where to sit in the bullpen, so I could listen to their conversations and chime in when needed, and still see what's going on in the game, where to where to be in the outfield during batting practice to have casual conversations, and then I also-I don't think I mentioned this earlier-I had a podcast that I did, and so the podcast, which had a weekly episode and a guest from the Pecos League, I was always looking for stories from the team to interject into the podcast, and that was a great conversation starter. I also took a lot of pictures of the players, candid shots that they would never have been able to take on their own, and then also provide some baseball lessons along the way. You know, there was one pitcher who was very dissatisfied with his outing one night. He said, "I didn't, I don't, I didn't strike out as many guys as I wanted, or I gave up too many runs. And I said, "You left the game when we were ahead here in the Pecos League, where the team score a lot of runs. It's not the absolute results; it's the relative results. Yeah, you did your job. You left the game with the '80s in the lead, and you did great. So I figured out ways to support these guys because they had their own challenges, being away from college, being away from home. Try to figure out how I could support them to bring out their best. Michael Hingson  1:02:12 What a great story, and what a a great insightful thing you said to that pitcher. Well, if people want to reach out to you, how can they do that? Evan Katz  1:02:21 Well, I have a website called Baseball by the Sea Media, where I have some of my writing that I talked about. I've done some baseball biographies and some baseball game stories and some exclusive stories. Baseball by the Sea Media. I'm also on LinkedIn. Those are probably the two easiest ways to find me. Michael Hingson  1:02:44 How do they find you on LinkedIn? Evan Katz  1:02:46 Evan Katz, just I don't think least qualified as a search parameter on LinkedIn. No, it's probably blocked. So, Michael Hingson  1:02:55 so Evan Katz is spelled Evan Katz  1:02:57 E V A N K A T Z. Michael Hingson  1:03:00 So there you go. Well, I want to tell you that when that book comes out, we have to to do another one of these because I want to really have a chance to feature the book and all that. So keep us posted. Evan Katz  1:03:13 Absolutely, I'm I'm I'm looking forward to to working on it, Michael. And I appreciate you having me on today. Michael Hingson  1:03:18 Well, I want to thank you, and I want to thank all of you for watching and listening, and I'd love to hear from you. Feel free to email me at speaker at michaelhinkson m i c h a e l h i n g s o n.com. Love it if you'd give us a five star rating, but more important than a rating, please give us a great review. Review the podcast and say nice things about Evan. That's a that's a beautiful thing to do. If anyone knows anyone who ought to be a guest on our podcast, Evan, including you, feel free to introduce us. We're always looking for people to come on and tell their stories. But for now, I want to thank you for being here, and I want to thank you for spending an hour with us and and making it a very enjoyable and an unstoppable day. Evan Katz  1:04:03 Absolutely, Michael, it's my pleasure. Michael Hingson  1:04:08 Thank you for being here with me on Unstoppable Mindset. I hope today's conversation left you with a fresh perspective, a new insight, or at least something worth thinking about. If you're ready to go deeper into the ideas that shape how we see ourselves and others, I have a free gift for you. Head over to michaelhingson.com and download my free ebook, Blinded by Fear. It explores the invisible beliefs that hold us back and shows you how to reframe them so you can move forward with clarity and confidence. Be sure to subscribe to our podcast, leave a review, and share this show with someone who can use a reminder that growth starts with mindset. When people think differently, we all move forward. Together, thanks again for listening. Keep learning, keep questioning, and keep choosing to live with an unstoppable mindset.

DescriptionCo-hosts Mark Thompson and Steve Little return from institute season to unpack a summer that reshaped the artificial intelligence landscape, beginning with the new model families from OpenAI and Anthropic and how to choose among them.The hosts then examine desktop artificial intelligence applications, which read and write files directly in a folder on your own computer, followed by Mark's Tip of the Week on connecting ChatGPT Desktop to Excel to update one of his complex spreadsheets.In RapidFire, the hosts cover the hacking spree that both OpenAI and Anthropic disclosed this summer, models solving mathematical problems that stumped researchers for decades, and handwritten text recognition finally crossing the line into everyday usefulness.The through line in today's episode is the shrinking list of things artificial intelligence cannot do, and what that might mean for genealogy.This episode is sponsored by the East Coast Genetic Genealogy ConferenceThe East Coast Genetic Genealogy Conference is one of the best places in the world for advanced genetic genealogists to learn how the newest advances in genetic genealogy can improve their family history research. Mark and Steve are both presenting, and the conference begins August 21, 2026, in Boston. In person and online options are both available.https://ecggc.org/TimestampsOpening00:16 East Coast Genetic Genealogy Conference in BostonIn the News03:40 Summer Model Releases: Choosing Between Fast, Cheap, and Good07:54 The Rise of the Desktop Apps: Artificial Intelligence That Reads Your Local FilesTip of the Week16:20 Connecting ChatGPT Desktop to Excel: Rebuilding a Complex SpreadsheetRapidFire25:58 Artificial Intelligence Breaks Out: OpenAI and Anthropic Disclose Sandbox Escapes31:24 Century-Old Math Problems Solved: Why Verifiable Fields Fall First38:03 Handwritten Text Recognition: Transcription Is No Longer the Hard PartFinal Thoughts46:10 Episode Wrap and Boston Send-OffResource LinksEast Coast Genetic Genealogy Conferencehttps://ecggc.org/Summer Model ReleasesUnited States Government Grounds Anthropichttps://www.anthropic.com/news/fable-mythos-accessSol Cheated on Itselfhttps://deploymentsafety.openai.com/gpt-5-6The Rise of the Desktop AppsDownload ChatGPT for Desktophttps://chatgpt.com/download/Install Claude Desktophttps://support.claude.com/en/articles/10065433-install-claude-desktopDownload Google Antigravityhttps://antigravity.google/Artificial Intelligence Solves Century-Old Math ProblemsTen Math Claims, Public Receipts from OpenAIhttps://openai.com/index/ten-advances-in-mathematics/Anthropic Cracked an 87-Year Math Problemhttps://fortune.com/2026/07/21/ai-solves-jacobian-conjecture-levant-alpoge-claude-fable-5/Handwritten Text RecognitionDan Maloney's Artificial Intelligence Handwriting Transcription Rankingshttps://www.genea.ca/rankings/TagsArtificial Intelligence, Genealogy, Family History, OpenAI, Anthropic, ChatGPT Desktop, Claude Desktop, Google Antigravity, Desktop Applications, Excel, Spreadsheet Automation, Handwriting Recognition, Document Transcription, Gemini, Model Selection, Sandbox Escape, Mathematics, Genetic Genealogy, Dan Maloney, AI Tools

In this episode of Roofing Road Trips®, host Megan Ellsworth leads a timely conversation with Dave Harrison of Dave Harrison Consulting and Steve Little of KPost Roofing and Waterproofing on the current state of the roofing industry. The discussion takes a grounded look at economic pressure, labor challenges and evolving customer expectations while exploring how contractors are adapting their strategies. With insight from both an industry consultant and an active contractor, the episode highlights what it takes to remain resilient and positioned for long-term success in today's market. Learn more at RoofersCoffeeShop.com!  https://www.rooferscoffeeshop.com/   Are you a contractor looking for resources? Become an R-Club Member today! https://www.rooferscoffeeshop.com/rcs-club-sign-up   Sign up for the Week in Roofing!  https://www.rooferscoffeeshop.com/sign-up   Follow Us!   https://www.facebook.com/rooferscoffeeshop/  https://www.linkedin.com/company/rooferscoffeeshop-com  https://x.com/RoofCoffeeShop  https://www.instagram.com/rooferscoffeeshop/  https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCAQTC5U3FL9M-_wcRiEEyvw  https://www.pinterest.com/rcscom/  https://www.tiktok.com/@rooferscoffeeshop  https://www.rooferscoffeeshop.com/rss  #RoofersCoffeeShop #MetalCoffeeShop #AskARoofer #CoatingsCoffeeShop #RoofingProfessionals #RoofingContractors #RoofingIndustry   

A Craigslist Sammy Davis Jr., a slimy, dying man-boy and an old mommy are all here for the... Rat Pack Rat Eddie Rouse gets hired by a mom to do his Sammy Davis Jr. act for her dying son. He turns out to be Steve Little and things get weird, but Rouse does do some singing to this poor, sweet, disgusting son. I love the late Eddie Rouse. I love the still alive Todd Rohal. So, for a birthday gift to myself, we watched this short film. It's filthy, grotesque, full of heart, shocks and hilarity. Basically, it seems to be, in fact, a Todd Rohal film. Watch it on youtube and watch this episode. Join the Rohal army.

Nicole and Diana open the episode by discussing Claude in Chrome for Pedigree Triangulation before introducing their interview with Mark and Steve about AI, who host the Family History AI Show. Mark Thompson also runs the Making Family History blog, and Steve Little writes on his Substack, Vibe Genealogy AI. Steve is the AI Program Director for the National Genealogical Society. They both teach widely about AI topics and family history, including their own courses. Diana shares her specific workflow for locality research, explaining her "round-robin" approach of gathering raw data from multiple AI models, such as ChatGPT and Perplexity, and then feeding that output into Claude to distill and format the information. The hosts then discuss the idea of verification as a learning tool, arguing that fact-checking the AI's transcription or summary is where the deepest learning takes place, shifting the researcher's focus from typing "drudgery" to the "art" of correlation. They discuss the future of AI and genealogy, concluding that AI will not replace the "human element" in genealogy, such as intuition and persistence. Listeners will learn practical tips on using a multi-model AI "stack" for more accurate, professional results and gain a balanced view of how AI excitement is tempered by the continued importance of the human genealogist. This summary was generated by Google Gemini. Links Steve Little's RootsTech classes - https://www.familysearch.org/en/rootstech/speakers/steve-little/en Mark Thompson's RootsTech classes - https://www.familysearch.org/en/rootstech/speakers/mark-thompson/en AI Genealogy Insights - Steve Little's former blog -  https://aigenealogyinsights.com/blog/ Vibe Genealogy - Steve Little's Substack - https://vibegenealogy.ai/ The Family History AI Show Webpage – https://blubrry.com/3738800/ The Family History AI Show at Apple Podcasts – https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-family-history-ai-show/id1749873836 Mark's website – Making Family History – www.makingfamilyhistory.com Sponsor – Newspapers.com For listeners of this podcast, Newspapers.com is offering new subscribers 20% off a Publisher Extra subscription so you can start exploring today. Just use the code "FamilyLocket" at checkout.  Research Like a Pro Resources Airtable Universe - Nicole's Airtable Templates - https://www.airtable.com/universe/creator/usrsBSDhwHyLNnP4O/nicole-dyer Airtable Research Logs Quick Reference - by Nicole Dyer - https://familylocket.com/product-tag/airtable/ Research Like a Pro: A Genealogist's Guide book by Diana Elder with Nicole Dyer on Amazon.com - https://amzn.to/2x0ku3d 14-Day Research Like a Pro Challenge Workbook - digital - https://familylocket.com/product/14-day-research-like-a-pro-challenge-workbook-digital-only/ and spiral bound - https://familylocket.com/product/14-day-research-like-a-pro-challenge-workbook-spiral-bound/ Research Like a Pro Webinar Series - monthly case study webinars including documentary evidence and many with DNA evidence - https://familylocket.com/product-category/webinars/ Research Like a Pro eCourse - independent study course -  https://familylocket.com/product/research-like-a-pro-e-course/ RLP Study Group - upcoming group and email notification list - https://familylocket.com/services/research-like-a-pro-study-group/ Research Like a Pro Institute Courses - https://familylocket.com/product-category/institute-course/ Research Like a Pro with DNA Resources Research Like a Pro with DNA: A Genealogist's Guide to Finding and Confirming Ancestors with DNA Evidence book by Diana Elder, Nicole Dyer, and Robin Wirthlin - https://amzn.to/3gn0hKx Research Like a Pro with DNA eCourse - independent study course -  https://familylocket.com/product/research-like-a-pro-with-dna-ecourse/ RLP with DNA Study Group - upcoming group and email notification list - https://familylocket.com/services/research-like-a-pro-with-dna-study-group/ Thank you Thanks for listening! We hope that you will share your thoughts about our podcast and help us out by doing the following: Write a review on iTunes or Apple Podcasts. If you leave a review, we will read it on the podcast and answer any questions that you bring up in your review. Thank you! Leave a comment in the comment or question in the comment section below. Share the episode on Twitter, Facebook, or Pinterest. Subscribe on iTunes or your favorite podcast app. Sign up for our newsletter to receive notifications of new episodes - https://familylocket.com/sign-up/ Check out this list of genealogy podcasts from Feedspot: Best Genealogy Podcasts - https://blog.feedspot.com/genealogy_podcasts/

This episode features listener takeaways from the recent RootsTech 2026 conference. Diana discusses the overall positive impressions of the event, noting the high quality of the presentations and the unanimous message about disclosing the use of AI and double-checking its work. Nicole and Diana review several classes on AI, including transforming family history into song, understanding AI's role in archival stewardship, and mastering the basics of AI for genealogy. They share lessons on using AI to abstract information from records, create citations, and analyze research logs to identify gaps. Diana also discusses her class on using AI to clarify complex court records by translating obsolete terms and organizing chronological data. The hosts share insights on specialized research areas, methodology, and records. Diana highlights classes on DNA, including using shared-match grids to analyze and group DNA matches and a methodology to defeat the "Genealogy Gremlin" by evaluating match pedigrees and mitigating confirmation bias. They share a listener's review of Michael Lacopo's session on how to successfully approach non-responsive cousins to encourage them to share their DNA. The hosts discuss classes on research methodology, such as resolving same-name issues by building identity profiles and constructing timelines, and using genealogical analysis to solve conflicting birth dates. Diana notes that a class on probate files reveals that these records contain many rich documents beyond the will, offering clues about an ancestor's associates and lifestyle. They also share Sue Taylor's review a class on Italian records that explains the Latin grammatical forms—nominative, genitive, and accusative—found in civil and parish records. Listeners learn how to access recordings and handouts from RootsTech to apply new AI tools to their research, master advanced DNA analysis techniques, and apply genealogical proof standards to complex records and challenging research questions. This summary was generated by Google Gemini. Links to RootsTech Classes RootsTech Classes in the On-Demand Library - https://www.familysearch.org/en/rootstech/library Even if there's no recording, you can always review the handout! AI and Genealogy ●       Musical Memories - Transforming Family History into Song with AI (recorded) by Brandon Camp of Storied - https://www.familysearch.org/en/rootstech/session/musical-memories-transforming-family-history-into-song-with-ai ●       Preserving the Past with Emerging Tech: AI's Role in Archival Stewardship (recorded) by Bret Weekes, John Morrey, John Alexander, Jimmy Zimmerman - https://www.familysearch.org/en/rootstech/session/preserving-the-past-with-emerging-tech-ais-role-in-archival-stewardship ●       Your AI Toolkit: Essential Tools for Family History Success (recorded) by Laryn Brown - https://www.familysearch.org/en/rootstech/session/your-ai-toolkit-essential-tools-for-family-history-success ●       AI & Family History: Foundations & First Steps: Mastering AI Basics for Genealogy (recorded) by Steve Little - https://www.familysearch.org/en/rootstech/session/ai-family-history-foundations-first-steps-mastering-ai-basics-for-genealogy ●       FamilySearch for Latinos: Using AI to Grow Your Tree (recorded) by Ada Luque Nelson - https://www.familysearch.org/en/rootstech/session/familysearch-for-latinos-using-ai-to-grow-your-tree ●       FamilySearch Full-Text Search – Your Golden Path to Ancestral Discovery (recorded) by David Ouimette - https://www.familysearch.org/en/rootstech/session/familysearch-full-text-search-your-golden-path-to-ancestral-discovery ●       AI-Powered Research Logs: From Chaos to Clarity in Your Genealogy Data (recorded - not online yet) by Diana Elder - https://www.familysearch.org/en/rootstech/session/ai-powered-research-logs-from-chaos-to-clarity-in-your-genealogy-data ●       From Complex to Clear: Transform Court Records with AI Tools [in-person only] by Diana Elder - https://www.familysearch.org/en/rootstech/session/from-complex-to-clear-transform-court-records-with-ai-tools ●       The Future of AI in Genealogy (recorded) by David Ouimette, Steve Little, Diana Elder, Mark Thompson, Dave Vance - https://www.familysearch.org/en/rootstech/session/the-future-of-ai-in-genealogy ●       DNA Evidence Analysis with AI (recorded) by Nicole Dyer - https://www.familysearch.org/en/rootstech/session/dna-evidence-analysis-with-ai DNA ●       Using Shared-Match Grids and Matrices In Your Family History Research [in-person only] by Jonny Perl - https://www.familysearch.org/en/rootstech/session/using-shared-match-grids-and-matrices-in-your-family-history-research ●       DNA Swim School: 1-3. Diahan Southard. Shared matches. (recorded) by Diahan Southard - https://www.familysearch.org/en/rootstech/session/dna-swim-school-part-1-floating-with-one-dna-match ●       Using Autosomal DNA Analysis to Identify an Ancestor's Likely Parents (recorded) by Alice Childs - https://www.familysearch.org/en/rootstech/session/using-autosomal-dna-analysis-to-identify-an-ancestors-likely-parents ●       DNA Analysis Methodology: Defeat the Genealogy Gremlin (recorded) by Karen Stanbary - https://www.familysearch.org/en/rootstech/session/dna-analysis-methodology-defeat-the-genealogy-gremlin ●       Hi, We're Related! Successful Communication With Your DNA Matches [in-person only] by Michael Lacopo - https://www.familysearch.org/en/rootstech/session/hi-were-related-successful-communication-with-your-dna-matches Methodology ●       Genealogical Proof in Practice: Resolving Conflicts and Building Sound Conclusions [in-person only] by D. Joshua Taylor - https://www.familysearch.org/en/rootstech/session/genealogical-proof-in-practice-resolving-conflicts-and-building-sound-conclusions ●       The GPS in Practice: Examples of Reasonably Exhaustive Research (recorded) by Angela Packer McGhie - https://www.familysearch.org/en/rootstech/session/the-gps-in-practice-examples-of-reasonably-exhaustive-research ●       When Nothing Found Means Something: Negative Search Results vs. Negative Evidence (recorded) by Diana Elder - https://www.familysearch.org/en/rootstech/session/when-nothing-found-means-something-negative-search-results-vs-negative-evidence ●       Untangling the Darling Web: Advanced Strategies for Same Name Resolution (recorded) by Bonnie Wade Mucia - https://www.familysearch.org/en/rootstech/session/untangling-the-darling-web-advanced-strategies-for-same-name-resolution ●       Which Date Is Right? Solving Birthdate Conflicts Through Genealogical Analysis (recorded) by Carolynn Ladd - https://www.familysearch.org/en/rootstech/session/which-date-is-right-solving-birthdate-conflicts-through-genealogical-analysis Records and Sources ●       Taxes & Tithes: Researching Enslaved Communities in Colonial Virginia [in-person only] by Orice Jenkins - https://www.familysearch.org/en/rootstech/session/taxes-and-tithes-researching-enslaved-communities-in-colonial-virginia ●       Double Dates and Lost Days: Making Sense of the Calendar Switch [in-person only] by Seema Kenney - https://www.familysearch.org/en/rootstech/session/double-dates-and-lost-days-making-sense-of-the-calendar-switch ●       Indentured Servitude: Michael Brophy. Where to search for information. [in-person only] by Michael Brophy - [URL is missing] ●       Cards, Clevises, and Calomel: What Probate Files Can Reveal about Our Ancestors (recorded) by Nancy Peters - https://www.familysearch.org/en/rootstech/session/cards-clevises-and-calomel-what-probate-files-can-reveal-about-our-ancestors ●       Provenance & Proof: Advanced Strategies for Finding and Using Manuscripts In Your Research (recorded) by Kelly Richardson - https://www.familysearch.org/en/rootstech/session/provenance-proof-advanced-strategies-for-finding-and-using-manuscripts-in-your-research Geographic & Ethnic Research ●       Civil and Parish Records in Italy: From the Council of Trent to the 20th Century. (recorded) by Daniel Taddone - https://www.familysearch.org/en/rootstech/session/civil-and-parish-records-in-italy-from-the-council-of-trent-to-the-20th-century ●       New Adventures in the Americas: Colonial research like never before [in-person only] by Kristilee J. Manuel - https://www.familysearch.org/en/rootstech/session/new-adventures-in-the-americas-colonial-research-like-never-before ●       Mastering the Four Prongs of Onsite Genealogy Research [in-person only] by Michael D. Lacopo - https://www.familysearch.org/en/rootstech/session/mastering-the-four-prongs-of-onsite-genealogy-research Sponsor – Newspapers.com For listeners of this podcast, Newspapers.com is offering new subscribers 20% off a Publisher Extra subscription so you can start exploring today. Just use the code "FamilyLocket" at checkout.  Research Like a Pro Resources Airtable Universe - Nicole's Airtable Templates - https://www.airtable.com/universe/creator/usrsBSDhwHyLNnP4O/nicole-dyer Airtable Research Logs Quick Reference - by Nicole Dyer - https://familylocket.com/product-tag/airtable/ Research Like a Pro: A Genealogist's Guide book by Diana Elder with Nicole Dyer on Amazon.com - https://amzn.to/2x0ku3d 14-Day Research Like a Pro Challenge Workbook - digital - https://familylocket.com/product/14-day-research-like-a-pro-challenge-workbook-digital-only/ and spiral bound - https://familylocket.com/product/14-day-research-like-a-pro-challenge-workbook-spiral-bound/ Research Like a Pro Webinar Series - monthly case study webinars including documentary evidence and many with DNA evidence - https://familylocket.com/product-category/webinars/ Research Like a Pro eCourse - independent study course -  https://familylocket.com/product/research-like-a-pro-e-course/ RLP Study Group - upcoming group and email notification list - https://familylocket.com/services/research-like-a-pro-study-group/ Research Like a Pro Institute Courses - https://familylocket.com/product-category/institute-course/ Research Like a Pro with DNA Resources Research Like a Pro with DNA: A Genealogist's Guide to Finding and Confirming Ancestors with DNA Evidence book by Diana Elder, Nicole Dyer, and Robin Wirthlin - https://amzn.to/3gn0hKx Research Like a Pro with DNA eCourse - independent study course -  https://familylocket.com/product/research-like-a-pro-with-dna-ecourse/ RLP with DNA Study Group - upcoming group and email notification list - https://familylocket.com/services/research-like-a-pro-with-dna-study-group/ Thank you Thanks for listening! We hope that you will share your thoughts about our podcast and help us out by doing the following: Write a review on iTunes or Apple Podcasts. If you leave a review, we will read it on the podcast and answer any questions that you bring up in your review. Thank you! Leave a comment in the comment or question in the comment section below. Share the episode on Twitter, Facebook, or Pinterest. Subscribe on iTunes or your favorite podcast app. Sign up for our newsletter to receive notifications of new episodes - https://familylocket.com/sign-up/ Check out this list of genealogy podcasts from Feedspot: Best Genealogy Podcasts - https://blog.feedspot.com/genealogy_podcasts/

Co-hosts Mark Thompson and Steve Little open with a deep look at MyHeritage's new Scribe AI, a new AI tool that analyzes records, photographs, gravestones, and coats of arms and provides genealogy relevant research suggestions. It even works on your own photographs.This episode features an interview with Dave Vance, General Manager of Family Tree DNA, exploring how the hottest new genetic genealogy tests, provided by next-generation sequencing, deliver 400 times more genomic info than traditional microarray chips and what that means for matching, triangulation, and the future role of AI in genetic genealogy.In RapidFire, the hosts cover Fold3's AI-powered full-text search for Revolutionary War pension files, Claude for Excel as a practical AI plug-in for Microsoft's spreadsheet, and Wikipedia's decision to ban AI-generated article content.TimestampsOpening00:05 GRIP 2026 Course AnnouncementsIn the News05:03 MyHeritage Scribe AI: Record and Photo Analysis for GenealogistsInterview14:58 Dave Vance, Family Tree DNA: Next-Generation Sequencing and AI in Genetic GenealogyRapidFire45:54 Fold3 Full-Text Search: Revolutionary War Pension Files Now Searchable53:46 Claude for Excel: AI-Powered Spreadsheet Analysis Plug-in1:00:47 Wikipedia's AI Policy: Editors Vote to Ban AI-Generated ContentFinal Thoughts1:08:19 Episode Wrap and Next Interview PreviewResource LinksGRIP Genealogy Institute 2026 CoursesGRIP Genealogy Institute https://grip.ngsgenealogy.org/MyHeritage Scribe AIIntroducing Scribe AI https://blog.myheritage.com/2026/03/introducing-scribe-ai/Fold3 Full-Text SearchRevolutionary War Pension Files: Now Available Through Full-Text Search https://blog.fold3.com/revolutionary-war-pension-files-now-available-through-full-text-search/Claude for ExcelUse Claude for Excel https://support.claude.com/en/articles/12650343-use-claude-for-excelWikipedia AI PolicyWikipedia Cracks Down on the Use of AI in Article Writing https://techcrunch.com/2026/03/26/wikipedia-cracks-down-on-the-use-of-ai-in-article-writing/Wikipedia: Artificial Intelligence Policy https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Artificial_intelligenceTagsArtificial Intelligence, Genealogy, Family History, MyHeritage, Scribe AI, Family Tree DNA, Dave Vance, Next-Generation Sequencing, Genetic Genealogy, Fold3, Handwriting Recognition, Full-Text Search, Claude for Excel, Wikipedia, AI Policy, Record Analysis, Photo Analysis, Revolutionary War, RootsTech, AI Tools

Co-hosts Mark Thompson and Steve Little examine the major AI model upgrades released over the winter, comparing Anthropic's Opus 4.6, OpenAI's GPT 5.4, and Google's Gemini 3.1 Pro and their benefits for genealogists.In a special interview recorded at RootsTech 2026, they sit down with Diana Elder and Nicole Dyer of Family Locket to explore how the Research Like a Pro methodology integrates with AI tools for transcription, locality research, and DNA analysis.In RapidFire, they cover FamilySearch's new Simple Search interface for Full-Text Search, Ancestry's AI Stories feature for understanding historical records, and the escalating conflict between Anthropic and the U.S. federal government over the use of AI by the military.Timestamps:In the News:03:12 New AI Model Releases: Opus 4.6, GPT 5.4, and Gemini 3.1 Pro Transform GenealogyInterview19:40 Interview with Diana Elder and Nicole Dyer: Research Like a Pro Meets AIRapidFire:44:05 FamilySearch Simple Search: Natural Language Meets Full-Text Search48:24 Ancestry AI Stories: Understanding Historical Records with AI53:00 Anthropic vs. U.S. Government: AI Ethics Battle Elevates ClaudeResource Links:New ModelsIntroducing GPT5.4https://openai.com/index/introducing-gpt-5-4/Anthropic releases Opus 4.6https://techcrunch.com/2026/02/05/anthropic-releases-opus-4-6-with-new-agent-teams/Anthropic releases Claude Sonnet 4.6https://www.cnbc.com/2026/02/17/anthropic-ai-claude-sonnet-4-6-default-free-pro.htmlGemini 3.1 Prohttps://blog.google/innovation-and-ai/models-and-research/gemini-models/gemini-3-1-pro/Interview with Diana Elder and Nicole Dyer from Family LocketAbout Diana Elder and Nicole Elder Dyerhttps://familylocket.com/about-us/Simple Search for Family Search Full Text SearchHow do I use Fulltext Search?https://www.familysearch.org/en/help/helpcenter/article/how-do-i-use-fulltext-searchAncestry AI StoriesAncestry Brings Family History to Life with New AI-Powered Storieshttps://www.ancestry.ca/corporate/blog/ancestry-brings-family-history-to-life-with-new-ai-powered-storiAnthropic and the U.S. GovernmentTrump orders government to stop using Anthropic in battle over AI usehttps://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cn48jj3y8ezoAnthropic CEO responds to Trump order, Pentagon clashhttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MPTNHrq_4LUTags:Artificial Intelligence, Genealogy, Family History, AI Models, RootsTech, FamilySearch, Ancestry, Claude, ChatGPT, Google Gemini

Writing this blurb is difficult. I've tried rewriting it at least three times, and I'm at the point of failing to explain myself, my partner, and the guy who's putting the film on at Sunray Cinema in Tampa on Saturday, January 17th, 2026, as part of Uncomfortable Brunch! We should all be disgusted with ourselves for enjoying it. Speaking of Uncomfortable Brunch, friend of the podcast Josh Martin joins us for this discussion!A film by Todd Rohal (anyone familiar with his work will know how messed up it is) and based on the comic by alternative cartoonist Johnny Ryan, this is a dark, mean-spirited comedy about a young man's mother meeting a woman and her child, and what ensues is carnage. Utter, utter carnage.Hold onto your seats with your clammy palms, my friends, this is a "bumpy" ride that is definitely for ADULTS ONLY!

In the last episode of 2025, Co-hosts Mark Thompson and Steve Little present their predictions for how artificial intelligence will transform genealogy research in 2026. This special episode examines fourteen key trends shaping the future of family history AI.Mark and Steve predict that AI tools will move from enthusiast circles into mainstream genealogy practice, with AI-enhanced apps like NotebookLM becoming more important than the underlying language models that people have focused on for the past three years.They explore how handwritten text recognition will become more accurate and accessible, and that genealogy companies will cautiously integrate new AI features, first focusing on helping us with our research.Timestamps:02:33 Family History AI Goes Mainstream: From Enthusiasts to Everyday Users04:13 Apps Over Models: Why Platform Features Matter More Than LLMs06:17 Reusable Prompting Tools: GPTs, Projects, and Gems Boost Efficiency08:02 AI-Enhanced Research Gains Acceptance Among Serious Genealogists09:53 Handwritten Text Recognition Gets Better, Easier, and Cheaper12:18 Genealogy Companies Take Cautious Approach to Generative AI17:07 AI-Enhanced Browsers Become Standard, Agentic Features Raise Concerns24:25 Voice Interfaces to AI Remain Niche in 202627:36 LLM Vendors Push File and Email Integration for Stickiness31:46 Productivity Tools Embed LLMs Everywhere35:56 The AI Horse Race: Three Leaders Emerge41:15 AI Licensing Deals Change Internet Access Patterns44:34 The AI Bubble Conversation is important to society, but less so to GenealogistsResource Links:The Family History AI Show Academy https://tixoom.app/fhaishowFamily History AI Goes MainstreamWhat Can AI Do for Your Genealogical Research? – James Tanner (Nov 2025) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SXmVKy1pUPEFamilySearch Shares Plans for 2025 (Includes AI integration details) https://newsroom.churchofjesuschrist.org/article/familysearch-shares-plans-for-2025Reusable Prompting ToolsCustom GPTs vs. Gemini Gems: Who Wins? - Learn Prompting (Aug 2025) https://learnprompting.org/blog/custom-gpts-vs-gemini-gemsAI-Enhanced ResearchUnlocking Family Histories: How AI Is Breathing New Life into Handwritten Records (South Central APG)https://southcentralapg.org/2025/08/16/unlocking-family-histories-how-ai-is-breathing-new-life-into-handwritten-records/Handwritten Text RecognitionA new Google model is nearly perfect on automated handwriting recognition - Hacker News https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=45887262Cautious AI from Genealogy CompaniesAI-Enhanced BrowsersCompliance alert: Do not use AI browsershttps://vinciworks.com/blog/compliance-alert-do-not-use-ai-browsers/Content Integration with ChatbotsGemini vs Copilot: A Quick Comparison Guide (2025) - Tactiqhttps://tactiq.io/learn/gemini-vs-copilotAI in Office Productivity ToolsMicrosoft Copilot in 2025: What's Changed & What's Next | Aldridgehttps://aldridge.com/microsoft-copilot-in-2025-whats-changed-whats-next/Monthly Round Up: New Features in Microsoft 365 Copilot (Dec 2025)https://dynamicscommunities.com/ug/copilot-ug/monthly-round-up-new-features-in-microsoft-365-copilot/The AI Horse RaceThe Best AI in October 2025? We Compared ChatGPT, Claude, Grok, Gemini & Others - FelloAIhttps://felloai.com/the-best-ai-in-october-2025-we-compared-chatgpt-claude-grok-gemini-others/The 2025 AI Coding Models: Comprehensive Guide to the Top 5 Contenders - CodeGPThttps://www.codegpt.co/blog/ai-coding-models-2025-comprehensive-guideAI Licensing DealsContent Licensing Agreements Will Concentrate Markets Without Standardized Access - ProMarket(Nov 2025) https://www.promarket.org/2025/11/20/content-licensing-agreements-will-concentrate-markets-without-standardized-access/The False Hope of Content Licensing at Internet Scale - ProMarkethttps://www.promarket.org/2025/11/19/the-false-hope-of-content-licensing-at-internet-scale/The AI Bubble ConversationThe AI boom will turn to bust in 2026https://www.marketwatch.com/story/the-ai-boom-will-turn-to-bust-next-year-says-this-forecaster-who-offers-his-trade-of-the-year-9c2a2332OUTLOOK 2026 Promise and Pressure - J.P. Morgan (Discusses AI market stability vs bubble risks)https://www.jpmorgan.com/content/dam/jpmorgan/documents/wealth-management/outlook-2026.pdfTags:Artificial Intelligence, Genealogy, Family History, AI Predictions, NotebookLM, HTR, AI Browsers, ChatGPT, Google Gemini, Anthropic Claude

Co-hosts Mark Thompson and Steve Little present a special year-end episode, comparing their 2025 AI predictions to what actually unfolded in 2025. This episode is a great review of the top AI advancements in 2025!The hosts examine which predictions hit the mark, including the agentic AI hype cycle, plummeting AI costs driven by DeepSeek, and the dethroning of OpenAI as the top AI model. They also explore predictions that proved partially accurate, such as the shift to local language models and the adoption of AI in social media.Mark and Steve have a good laugh over their biggest misses, including breakthroughs in text-in-image generation, image restoration, and vibe coding. They highlight how reasoning models were the transformative force behind nearly every major AI advancement in 2025.The episode closes with a preview of next week's 2026 predictions episode.Timestamps:03:30 Agents, Agents, Everywhere: Deep Research and Agentic Browsers09:49 Cost of AI Drops Like a Rock: DeepSeek Disrupts the Market12:26 OpenAI Dethroned: Gemini and Anthropic Rise18:46 Local Language Models23:54 AI Invades Social Media28:24 AI-Enhanced Writing: From Grammar Checking to Ghost Writers32:30 Family Tree Diagrams: Possible But Not Practical36:03 Handwriting Recognition: Reasoning Improves Results38:01 Reasoning Models: 2025's Most Important Advancement41:31 Text in Images: A Solved Problem45:05 Image Restoration: Breakthroughs and Responsibilities51:02 Vibe Coding: Speaking Software Into BeingResource Links:Register for a Class with the Family History AI Show Academyhttps://tixoom.app/fhaishowAgentic AIAgentic AI In-Depth Report 2025https://hblabgroup.com/agentic-ai-in-depth-report/Perplexity's New AI-First Browser Kicks Off Agentic Applicationshttps://www.forbes.com/sites/stevenwolfepereira/2025/07/11/perplexitys-new-ai-first-browser-is-kicking-off-agentic-applications/Cost of AIState of AI in 10 Chartshttps://hai.stanford.edu/news/ai-index-2025-state-of-ai-in-10-chartsFree AI Tools 2025https://thehumanprompts.com/free-ai-tools-2025-platforms/OpenAI DethronedGeoffrey Hinton says Google is 'beginning to overtake' OpenAIhttps://www.businessinsider.com/ai-godfather-geoffrey-hinton-google-overtaking-openai-2025-12Local AI HardwareAssessing the On-Device Artificial Intelligence (AI) Opportunityhttps://www.qualcomm.com/content/dam/qcomm-martech/dm-assets/documents/assessing-the-on-device-ai-opportunity.pdfFamily Tree DiagramsExplore how powerful AI image editing can support advanced creative workflows.https://deepmind.google/models/gemini-image/pro/Text in ImagesNano Banana Pro Review: Is Google's AI Image Generator Too Good?https://www.cnet.com/tech/services-and-software/google-nano-banana-pro-ai-image-generator-review/Vibe CodingNo code, big dreamshttps://www.businessinsider.com/non-technical-people-vibecoding-lessons-ai-apps-2025-9Image RestorationResponsible AI Photo Restorationhttps://makingfamilyhistory.com/responsible-ai-photo-restoration/Protecting Trust in Historical Imageshttps://craigen.org/protecting-trust-in-historical-images/Tags:Artificial Intelligence, Genealogy, Family History, AI Predictions, Reasoning Models, DeepSeek, Gemini, Image Restoration, Vibe Coding, Agentic AI

Co-hosts Mark Thompson and Steve Little examine Google's groundbreaking Gemini 3 release, which delivers state-of-the-art multimodal reasoning and sets a new benchmark for AI capabilities. They also explore ChatGPT's upgrade to version 5.1 with improved instruction following and better handling of longer conversation.The hosts discuss Canva's new Creative Operating System, which now generates AI-powered designs directly within the platform.This week's Tip of the Week demonstrates how Gemini 3 can use the context you provide it to greatly improve the accuracy of your hand written transcription.In RapidFire, they cover NotebookLM's new deep research mode, Nano Banana's integration into Photoshop, Anthropic's privacy policy changes regarding training data, and how Claude's new usage monitoring feature can reduce your stress level.Timestamps:In the News:04:17 Google Gemini 3's Multimodal AI Reaches New Heights13:47 ChatGPT 5.1 upgrade is now better at following your Instructions22:39 Canva Creative Operating System: AI-Powered Design GenerationTip of the Week:26:21 Adding Reasoning to Your Transcriptions Improves AccuracyRapidFire:36:40 NotebookLM Becomes a Fully Featured Research Tool43:40 Nano Banana is Now Available in Photoshop47:20 Anthropic Announces Claude Chats Will Be Used for Training Data54:13 View Your Claude Usage in SettingsResource Links:Intro to Family History AI by the Family History AI Show Academyhttps://tixoom.app/fhaishowGoogle Gemini 3Introducing Gemini 3: A New Era of Intelligencehttps://blog.google/products/gemini/gemini-3/ChatGPT 5.1A smarter, more conversationalhttps://openai.com/index/gpt-5-1/GPT-5.1 New Features Explainedhttps://scalevise.com/resources/gpt-5-1-new-features/Canva Creative Operating SystemIntroducing Canva's Creative Operating Systemhttps://www.canva.com/newsroom/news/creative-operating-system/NotebookLM Deep ResearchNotebookLM adds Deep Research and support for more source typeshttps://blog.google/technology/google-labs/notebooklm-deep-research-file-types/Nano Banana in PhotoshopCreate with unlimited generations using Google Gemini 3 (Nano Banana Pro) in Adobe Fireflyhttps://blog.adobe.com/en/publish/2025/11/20/google-gemini-3-nano-banana-pro-firefly-photoshopAnthropic Privacy Policy UpdateAnthropic Will Use Claude Chats for Training Data: How to Opt Outhttps://www.wired.com/story/anthropic-using-claude-chats-for-training-how-to-opt-out/Updates to Consumer Terms and Privacy Policyhttps://www.anthropic.com/news/updates-to-our-consumer-termsClaude Usage MonitoringUsage Limit Best Practiceshttps://support.claude.com/en/articles/9797557-usage-limit-best-practicesTags:Artificial Intelligence, Genealogy, Family History, Google Gemini, ChatGPT, Canva, NotebookLM, Nano Banana, Anthropic Claude, Photo Restoration

Co-hosts Mark Thompson and Steve Little discuss how new AI browsers are changing how genealogists research. They compare OpenAI's Atlas, Microsoft Edge, Google's Gemini, and Perplexity's Comet, explaining which features help family historians most.The hosts share lessons from the early AOL era that can be applied to the AI era. They also explore Anthropic's new Haiku 4.5, a very fast model that works great for simple tasks like transcription and summarization.Don't miss this week's Tip of the Week, where Steve shows how AI can help you write better AI prompts. He uses an example for extracting information from draft cards to show how useful this approach can be.In RapidFire, they cover new AI features in spreadsheets, major improvements in transcribing old handwriting, and how Microsoft Copilot's new agent store tries to help you with common tasks.Timestamps:In the News:01:20 Browser Wars Heat Up: OpenAI Atlas, Edge, and Gemini Compete16:50 What AI Can Learn from AOL: Avoiding Walled Garden Mistakes29:10 Anthropic's Haiku 4.5: When Smaller Models Beat Bigger OnesTip of the Week:39:50 Using AI to Write Better Prompts for Historical DocumentsRapidFire:47:19 AI Makes Spreadsheets Easier: Google Sheets vs Excel54:35 Reading Old Handwriting Gets Better: DeepSeek and Google Updates01:05:15 Microsoft Copilot Adds Writing and Prompt CoachesResource Links:Genealogy and AI Facebook to hit 20k users! https://www.facebook.com/groups/genealogyandaiAn In-Depth Look at OpenAI's AI Browserhttps://intuitionlabs.ai/articles/chatgpt-atlas-openai-browserDeepSeek AI created DeepSeek-OCR https://www.infoq.com/news/2025/10/deepseek-ocr/Nearly perfect on handwriting recognition https://generativehistory.substack.com/p/has-google-quietly-solved-two-ofGlobal AI Browser Market Sizehttps://market.us/report/ai-browser-market/Benchmarking Claude Haiku 4.5 and Sonnet 4.5 on 400 Real PRshttps://www.qodo.ai/blog/thinking-vs-thinking-benchmarking-claude-haiku-4-5-and-sonnet-4-5-on-400-real-prs/Anthropic's Claude Haiku 4.5 Brings Enterprise-Grade Speed and Savings to Customer-Facing AIhttps://www.cxtoday.com/contact-center/anthropics-claude-haiku-4-5-brings-enterprise-grade-speed-and-savings-to-customer-facing-ai/Top 10 AI Spreadsheet Toolshttps://www.knack.com/blog/top-ai-spreadsheet-tools/Prompt Coach: Prebuilt agent for Microsoft 365 Copilot Chathttps://rishonapowerplatform.com/2025/03/11/prompt-coach-prebuilt-agent-for-microsoft-365-copilot-chat/Tags:Artificial Intelligence, Genealogy, AI Browsers, OpenAI Atlas, Google Gemini, Microsoft Edge, Perplexity Comet, Anthropic Haiku, Meta-Prompting, Spreadsheet AI, OCR Technology, Handwritten Text, DeepSeek, Microsoft Copilot, AI Agents, Document Extraction, Family History, Browser Wars, AI Models

Co-hosts Mark Thompson and Steve Little explore how Google's Nano Banana photo restoration tool will revolutionize image restoration by integrating with Adobe Photoshop. This move will greatly reduce unintended changes to historical photos when editing them with AI.Next, they unpack OpenAI's move to make ChatGPT Projects available to free-tier users, making research organization more accessible for genealogists.This week's Tip of the Week provides essential guidance on the responsible use AI when editing historical photos using AI tools like Nano Banana, ensuring transparency and trust in historical photographs.In RapidFire, they cover OpenAI's new Sora 2 AI-video social media platform, Claude's new ability to create and edit Microsoft Office files, memory features in Claude Projects, advancements in local language models, and how OpenAI's massive infrastructure deals are changing the AI landscape.Timestamps:In the News:02:43 Adobe improves historical photo restoration by adding Nano Banana to Photoshop09:34 ChatGPT Projects are Now FreeTip of the Week:13:36 Citations for AI-Restored Images Build Trust in AI-Modified PhotosRapidFire:21:24 Sora 2 Goes Social27:23 Claude Adds Microsoft Office Creation and Editing34:26 Memory Features Come to Claude Projects38:32 Apple and Amazon both create Local Language Model tools44:47 OpenAI's Big Data Centre Deal with Oracle Resource LinksOpenAI announces free access to ChatGPT Projectshttps://help.openai.com/en/articles/6825453-chatgpt-release-notesEngadget: OpenAI Rolls Out ChatGPT Projects to Free Usershttps://www.engadget.com/ai/openai-rolls-out-chatgpt-projects-to-free-users-215027802.htmlForbes: OpenAI Makes ChatGPT Projects Freehttps://www.forbes.com/sites/quickerbettertech/2025/09/14/small-business-technology-roundup-microsoft-copilot-does-not-improve-productivity-and-openai-makes-chatgpt-project-free/Responsible AI Photo Restorationhttps://makingfamilyhistory.com/responsible-ai-photo-restoration/Claude now has memory, but only for certain usershttps://mashable.com/article/anthropic-claude-ai-now-has-memory-for-some-usersNew Apple Intelligence features are available todayhttps://www.apple.com/newsroom/2025/09/new-apple-intelligence-features-are-available-today/Introducing Amazon Lens Livehttps://www.aboutamazon.com/news/retail/search-image-amazon-lens-live-shopping-rufusAmazon Lens Live Can Scan and Pull Up Matcheshttps://www.pcmag.com/news/spot-an-item-you-wish-to-buy-amazon-lens-live-can-scan-and-pull-up-matchesA Joint Statement from OpenAI and Microsoft About Their Changing Partnershiphttps://openai.com/index/joint-statement-from-openai-and-microsoft/The Verge: OpenAI and Oracle Pen $300 Billion Compute Dealhttps://www.theverge.com/ai-artificial-intelligence/776170/oracle-openai-300-billion-contract-project-stargateReuters: OpenAI and Oracle Sign $300 Billion Computing Dealhttps://www.reuters.com/technology/openai-oracle-sign-300-billion-computing-deal-wsj-reports-2025-09-10/?utm_source=chatgpt.comTagsArtificial Intelligence, Genealogy, Family History, Photo Restoration, AI Tools, OpenAI, Google, Adobe Photoshop, ChatGPT Projects, Nano Banana, Image Editing, AI Citations, Sora 2, Video Generation, Claude, Microsoft Office, Apple Intelligence, Amazon Lens, Oracle, Cloud Computing, Local Language Models, AI Infrastructure, Responsible AI, Historical Photos

Co-hosts Mark Thompson and Steve Little review the biggest AI breakthroughs of 2025 so far, from DeepSeek's open-source revolution to GPT-5's unified reasoning model.Mark and Steve also celebrate FamilySearch's Full-Text Search moving from experimental labs to the main website, covering 1.4 billion records across 4,300 collections plus new summarization and filtering features.This week's Tip of the Week provides practical guidance on using Nano Banana for photo restoration, explaining when it works brilliantly and when to exercise caution with damaged images.In RapidFire, they examine competing reports on AI's environmental impact, explore Google's new AI Mode in mobile apps, and discuss the landmark antitrust ruling that forces Google to share search data with competitors.Timestamps:In the News:03:44 2025 Mid-Year Review: AI's Explosive Growth in Genealogy29:08 FamilySearch Full Text Search Is Now Live37:57 AI Success Stories in the Wild: Real Genealogists, Real ResultsTip of the Week:47:53 Best Uses for Nano Banana (Gemini Nano): Small Model, Big ImpactRapidFire:59:54 AI's Environmental Debate: Energy Costs vs. Benefits1:03:50 Google AI in Mobile Apps: What It Means for Genealogists1:11:07 Google Antitrust Ruling Issued: Impact on AI DevelopmentResource Links:Intro to Family History AI by the Family History AI Show Academyhttps://tixoom.app/fhaishowFull-Text Search (must be logged in to use this link)https://www.familysearch.org/en/search/full-text/Full-Text Search Leaves FamilySearch Labshttps://www.familysearch.org/en/blog/full-text-search-leaves-familysearch-labsHow do I use FullText Search?https://www.familysearch.org/en/help/helpcenter/article/how-do-i-use-fulltext-searchResponsible AI Photo Restorationhttps://makingfamilyhistory.com/responsible-ai-photo-restoration/WaPo AI Energy Usage, Sept 2024https://www.washingtonpost.com/technology/2024/09/18/energy-ai-use-electricity-water-data-centers/Google: How much energy does Google's AI use? We did the mathhttps://cloud.google.com/blog/products/infrastructure/measuring-the-environmental-impact-of-ai-inference/Judge orders Google to share search data as part of antitrust ruling --- but Google gets to keep Chromehttps://www.tomsguide.com/computing/search-engines/judge-orders-google-to-share-search-data-as-part-of-antitrust-ruling-but-google-gets-to-keep-chrome?utm_source=chatgpt.com Tags:Artificial Intelligence, Genealogy, Family History, DeepSeek R1, AI Reasoning, Open Source AI, Free AI Tools, ChatGPT, Claude, Google Gemini, OpenAI Operator, AI Agents, Beginner AI Guide, Research Tools, Document Analysis, AI Democratization, Context Windows, Deep Research, AI Writing, Browser Automation, Genealogy Research, AI Accessibility, Reasoning Models, AI Education

Co-hosts Mark Thompson and Steve Little return from summer break to discuss the mixed reception of ChatGPT 5 and how OpenAI responded to user feedback.They explore Google's game-changing Nano Banana (Gemini Flash Image) model that revolutionizes selective image editing, reigniting debates about AI photo restoration in genealogy.This week's Tip of the Week emphasizes not letting perfect be the enemy of the good, especially when it comes to AI-powered citation. Mark shares his experience with 100 citations as part of the WikiTree Challenge.In RapidFire, they cover Apple's possible Gemini partnership, new AI study modes for back-to-school season, Anthropic's copyright settlement, and controversial changes to its privacy policy. They close with escalating skirmishes in the escalating AI browser wars.Timestamps:In the News:05:14 ChatGPT 5 Launch Aftermath: Mixed Reception and Quick Fixes 17:15 Nano Banana: Google's Game-Changing Image Editing ModelTip of the Week:32:38 Don't Let Perfect Be the Enemy of Good: Building Citation PromptsRapidFire:43:27 Apple Explores Google Gemini Partnership for Siri 47:16 Back to School: AI Study Modes from ChatGPT and Gemini 53:00 Anthropic Settles Copyright Lawsuit with Authors 56:29 Anthropic Reverses Privacy Stance on Training Data 60:55 AI Browser Wars: Anthropic and Google Enter the FrayResource LinksIntro to Family History AI by the Family History AI Show Academyhttps://tixoom.app/fhaishowMass Intelligence by Ethan Mollickhttps://www.oneusefulthing.org/p/mass-intelligenceCreate and edit images with Geminihttps://deepmind.google/models/gemini/image/Google take 'giant leap' with launch of 'Nano Banana'https://www.uniladtech.com/news/ai/google-giant-leap-nano-banana-launch-image-editing-305898-20250828Apple Explores Using Google Gemini AI to Power Revamped Sirihttps://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2025-08-22/apple-explores-using-google-gemini-ai-to-power-revamped-siriGuided Learning in Gemini: From answers to understandinghttps://blog.google/outreach-initiatives/education/guided-learning/Introducing study modehttps://openai.com/index/chatgpt-study-mode/Anthropic Settles Copyright Lawsuithttps://www.reuters.com/legal/government/anthropics-surprise-settlement-adds-new-wrinkle-ai-copyright-war-2025-08-27/Anthropic Updates Data Policyhttps://www.anthropic.com/news/updates-to-our-consumer-termsNew Opt-Out Policy Reverses Stance on Using Consumer Data for AI Traininghttps://techcrunch.com/2025/08/28/anthropic-users-face-a-new-choice-opt-out-or-share-your-data-for-ai-training/Anthropic launches a Claude AI agent that lives in Chromehttps://techcrunch.com/2025/08/26/anthropic-launches-a-claude-ai-agent-that-lives-in-chrome/Google is launching a Gemini integration in Chromehttps://techcrunch.com/2025/05/20/google-is-launching-a-gemini-integration-in-chrome/TagsArtificial Intelligence, Genealogy, Family History, Technology, ChatGPT, OpenAI, Google Gemini, Anthropic Claude, Image Editing, Nano Banana, AI Photography, Citation Management, WikiTree, AI Study Modes, Copyright Law, Privacy Policy, Browser Extensions, AI Training Data, Photo Restoration, Apple Siri, Educational AI, Model Selection, AI Ethics, Chrome Integration

Co-hosts Mark Thompson and Steve Little explore the groundbreaking release of ChatGPT-5, which arrived after over a year of anticipation. They discuss how this new model transforms the AI landscape with better reasoning, larger context windows, and dramatically reduced hallucinations.The hosts examine OpenAI's new Study and Learn Mode, which acts as a personal tutor rather than just providing answers, making it ideal for genealogists who want to deepen their understanding of their favourite topic.This week's Tip of the Week cautions beginners about challenging AI tasks like handwritten transcriptions and structured files, recommending they master the basics first.In RapidFire, they cover OpenAI's first open-source release since 2019, NotebookLM's video capabilities, and impressive AI company earnings reports.Timestamps:In the News:00:55 ChatGPT-5 Has Arrived: Improved Features (mostly) for Genealogists16:29 OpenAI's Study and Learn Mode: Your Personal Genealogy Tutor23:40 Claude Releases Opus 4.1: Enhanced Reasoning and WritingTip of the Week:29:25 AI Tasks for Beginners to Be Cautious OfRapidFire:40:16 OpenAI Releases First Open Source Model Since 201948:33 NotebookLM Upgrade Adds Video Support53:34 AI Companies Report Record EarningsResource LinksIntroduction to Family History AIhttps://tixoom.app/fhaishow/OpenAI GPT-5 Model Cardhttps://openai.com/index/gpt-5-system-card/Introducing study modehttps://openai.com/index/chatgpt-study-mode/ChatGPT Study Mode - FAQhttps://help.openai.com/en/articles/11780217-chatgpt-study-mode-faqClaude Opus 4.1https://www.anthropic.com/news/claude-opus-4-1OpenAI announces two "gpt-oss" open AI modelshttps://arstechnica.com/ai/2025/08/openai-releases-its-first-open-source-models-since-2019/Google's NotebookLM rolls out Video Overviewshttps://techcrunch.com/2025/07/29/googles-notebooklm-rolls-out-video-overviews/Tech bubble going pop: AI pays the price for inflated expectationshttps://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/article/2024/aug/07/the-guardian-view-on-a-tech-bubble-going-pop-ai-pays-the-price-for-inflated-expectationsIs The AI Bubble About To Burst?https://www.forbes.com/sites/bernardmarr/2024/08/07/is-the-ai-bubble-about-to-burst/Google loses appeal in antitrust battle with Fortnite makerhttps://masslawyersweekly.com/2025/08/06/google-play-monopoly-verdict-epic-games-win/Department of Justice Prevails in Landmark Antitrust Case Against Googlehttps://www.justice.gov/opa/pr/department-justice-prevails-landmark-antitrust-case-against-googleTagsArtificial Intelligence, Technology, Genealogy, Family History, OpenAI, ChatGPT-5, Claude, Large Language Models, AI Learning Tools, Study Mode, Open Source AI, NotebookLM, Video Overviews, AI Reasoning, Context Windows, Hallucination Reduction, GEDCOM Files, Handwritten Transcription, Document Analysis, AI Earnings, Google Antitrust, Apache License, Local AI Processing, Privacy, AI Education, Tutoring Systems, Coding Capabilities, Multilingual Processing, AI Development, Family History Research, Genealogists, AI Tools, Machine Learning

Co-hosts Mark Thompson and Steve Little deliver a special same-day episode covering the long-awaited release of ChatGPT-5, which launched today, August 7, 2025.They explore the most significant improvements in the upgrade for genealogists, including automated model selection that eliminates confusing settings for beginners, enhanced reasoning capabilities that reduce hallucinations by 45%, and big increase in the amount of information or documents that can be processed at once. Mark demonstrates ChatGPT-5's improved image analysis with cabinet card photos, revealing how the model now provides research suggestions automatically.This extra podcast also announces the launch of the Family History AI Show Academy, with Mark and Steve's first five-week course... "Introduction to Family History AI" beginning October 14th.Introduction to Family History AI with Mark Thompson and Steve Littlehttps://tixoom.app/fhaishow/Key Features Highlighted:Automated Model SelectionEnhanced ReasoningLarger Context WindowImproved Vision AnalysisBetter Document GroundingResource Links:Introduction to Family History AI https://tixoom.app/fhaishow/GPT-5 is here https://openai.com/gpt-5/Introducing GPT-5 https://openai.com/index/introducing-gpt-5/OpenAI launches new GPT-5 model for all ChatGPT users https://www.cnbc.com/2025/08/07/openai-launches-gpt-5-model-for-all-chatgpt-users.htmlTags:Artificial Intelligence, Genealogy, Family History, OpenAI, ChatGPT-5, AI Tools, Emergency Podcast, Model Selection, Reasoning Models, Context Window, Image Analysis, Cabinet Cards, Handwritten Text Recognition, Document Processing, Hallucination Reduction, AI Education, Family History AI Show Academy, Research Automation, Vision Analysis, Agentic AI, Professional Genealogy

Co-hosts Mark Thompson and Steve Little explore OpenAI's groundbreaking ChatGPT Agent, demonstrating how this autonomous tool can research, analyze, and perform complex tasks on your behalf.Next, they address important security concerns to consider in the new world of AI agents, introducing practical guidelines for protecting sensitive family data and avoiding prompt injection attacks.This week's Tip of the Week provides a back-to-basics guide on what AI is and its four core strengths: summarization, extraction, generation, and translation.In RapidFire, they discuss OpenAI's rumored office suite, Microsoft and Google's own efforts to integrate AI into their office suites, and recently announced AI infrastructure investments, including; Meta's Manhattan-sized data center and President Trump's new AI Action Plan.The hosts also announce their new Family History AI Show Academy, a five-week course beginning in October of 2025. See https://tixoom.app/fhaishow/ for more details.Timestamps:In the News:05:20 ChatGPT Agent: Autonomous Research Assistant for Genealogists22:49 Safe and Secure in the Age of AITip of the Week:36:20 What is AI and What is it Good For? Back to BasicsRapidFire:50:57 OpenAI's Office Suite Rumors53:56 Microsoft and Google Bring AI to Their Office Suites60:17 Big AI Infrastructure: Manhattan-Sized Data CentersResource Links:Introduction to Family History AIhttps://tixoom.app/fhaishow/Do agents work in the browser?https://www.bensbites.com/p/do-agents-work-in-the-browserIntroducing ChatGPT agent: bridging research and actionhttps://openai.com/index/introducing-chatgpt-agent/OpenAI's new ChatGPT Agent can control an entire computer and do tasks for youhttps://www.theverge.com/ai-artificial-intelligence/709158/openai-new-release-chatgpt-agent-operator-deep-researchOpenAI's New ChatGPT Agent Tries to Do It Allhttps://www.wired.com/story/openai-chatgpt-agent-launch/Agent demo posthttps://x.com/rowancheung/status/1945896543263080736OpenAI Quietly Designed a Rival to Google Workspace, Microsoft Officehttps://www.theinformation.com/articles/openai-quietly-designed-rival-google-workspace-microsoft-officeOpenAI Is Quietly Creating Tools to Take on Microsoft Office and Google Workspacehttps://www.theglobeandmail.com/investing/markets/stocks/MSFT/pressreleases/33074368/openai-is-quietly-creating-tools-to-take-on-microsoft-office-and-google-workspace-googl/What's new in Microsoft 365 Copilot?https://techcommunity.microsoft.com/blog/microsoft365copilotblog/what%E2%80%99s-new-in-microsoft-365-copilot--june-2025/4427592Google Workspace enables the future of AI-powered work for every businesshttps://workspace.google.com/blog/product-announcements/empowering-businesses-with-AIGoogle Workspace Review: Will it Serve My Needs?https://www.emailtooltester.com/en/blog/google-workspace-review/Tags:Artificial Intelligence, Genealogy, Family History, AI Agents, ChatGPT Agent, OpenAI, Computer Use, AI Security, Prompt Injection, Database Analysis, RootsMagic, Cemetery Records, AI Office Suite, Microsoft 365 Copilot, Google Workspace, Data Centers, AI Infrastructure, Natural Language Processing, Large Language Models, Context Windows, AI Education, Family History AI Show Academy, AI Reasoning Models, Autonomous Research, AI Ethics

StanLand is a five-part satirical audio series featuring Rhea Seehorn, Bobby Moynihan, Steve Little, Timm Sharp, Jon Hamm, John Waters, and more.When cynical podcaster Melanie Hughes (Rhea Seehorn) vanishes without a trace, the only clue is her abandoned recorder, discovered by the side of a road in Poolesville, Maryland. What's on the tape? A story that begins with a dusty Ikea wardrobe… and ends in a magical realm slowly being swallowed up by fast food chains, retail shopping, and vape stores. Enter Zyngia: once a land of wonder, ruled by a talking lion (Steve Little), now a cautionary tale of what happens when fantasy meets modern consumerism. At the center of it all? Stan Little (Bobby Moynihan). Unemployed. Unremarkable. Possibly the last person you'd want on a magical quest. And yet… here we are.Equal parts epic, absurd, and uncomfortably familiar. Link: https://shows.acast.com/stanland RSS Feed: https://feeds.acast.com/public/shows/stanland

Co-hosts Mark Thompson and Steve Little explore Perplexity's groundbreaking Comet browser, which brings AI directly to web pages and can autonomously navigate sites to collect genealogical data.They examine Grok 4's impressive benchmark performance while discussing its limitations for genealogical research and safety concerns.This week's Tip of the Week introduces "context engineering" - the art of providing maximum information to AI tools through examples, documents, and prior conversations for superior results.In RapidFire, they cover Google's Veo 3 photo-to-video tool, Silicon Valley's dramatic Windsurf acquisition battle, and OpenAI's new ChatGPT Agent that can control computers autonomously.Timestamps:In the News:07:47 Perplexity's Comet Browser: AI-Enhanced Research and Web Surfing20:32 Grok 4 Released: Benchmark Success, Real-World ChallengesTip of the Week:27:53 Context Engineering: Maximizing AI Results with Rich InformationRapidFire:36:02  Google Veo 3: Transform Photos into Videos44:19 Windsurf Acquisition Drama: AI Consolidation Begins53:58 ChatGPT Agent: Autonomous Computer Control ArrivesResource LinksOfficial Comet Launch Announcementhttps://www.perplexity.ai/hub/blog/introducing-cometPerplexity launches Comet, an AI-powered web browserhttps://techcrunch.com/2025/07/09/perplexity-launches-comet-an-ai-powered-web-browser/Every: Vibe Check: Grok 4 Aced Its Exams. The Real World Is a Different Storyhttps://every.to/vibe-check/vibe-check-grok-4-aced-its-exams-the-real-world-is-a-different-storyLM Arena Leaderboardhttps://lmarena.ai/leaderboardTechCrunch: Google adds image-to-video generation capability to Veo 3https://techcrunch.com/2025/07/10/google-adds-image-to-video-generation-capability-to-veo-3/Windsurf's CEO goes to Google; OpenAI's acquisition falls aparthttps://techcrunch.com/2025/07/11/windsurfs-ceo-goes-to-google-openais-acquisition-falls-apart/Every: Vibe Check: OpenAI Enters the Browser Wars With ChatGPT Agenthttps://every.to/vibe-check/vibe-check-openai-enters-the-browser-wars-with-chatgpt-agentTechCrunch: AWS is launching an AI agent marketplace next week with Anthropic as a partnerhttps://techcrunch.com/2025/07/10/aws-is-launching-an-ai-agent-marketplace-next-week-with-anthropic-as-a-partner/TagsArtificial Intelligence, Genealogy, Family History, AI Browsers, Web Navigation, Perplexity Comet, Grok 4, ChatGPT Agent, Context Engineering, AI Tools, Agentic Browsers, Video Generation, Google Veo 3, Windsurf Acquisition

Co-hosts Mark Thompson and Steve Little explore how AI-based transcriptions are revolutionizing genealogical research across the industry. They examine FamilySearch's Full-Text Search expansion to over 1.25 billion records and Ancestry's new document transcription tool.The episode features an exclusive interview with David Ouimette from FamilySearch, who reveals how they're making previously unsearchable handwritten documents accessible through AI technology.This week's Tip of the Week demonstrates Dan Maloney's innovative Genealogy Assistant HTR tool for transcribing multiple documents simultaneously.In RapidFire, they discuss Grok 4's anticipated release, Apple's shift to integrate ChatGPT and Claude rather than develop their own AI, and Google Photos' new natural language search capabilities powered by Gemini.Timestamps:In the News:03:23 AI Transcriptions Everywhere: The New Normal in Genealogy25:33 Building AI Apps with ClaudeInterview:29:34 David Ouimette on FamilySearch's AI JourneyRapidFire:49:27 Grok 4 Release Announcement51:35 Apple Pivots to Third-Party AI Integration56:02 Google Photos Adds Natural Language SearchResource LinksExpanded Access to Full-Text Searchhttps://www.familysearch.org/en/blog/full-text-search-experimental-aiAncestry announces the Beta launch of its new document transcription featurehttps://www.ancestry.com/c/ancestry-blog/ancestry-news/document-transcription-featureSnagit Screen Capturehttps://www.techsmith.com/snagitWindows Snipping Toolhttps://support.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/use-snipping-tool-to-capture-screenshots-00246869-1843-655f-f220-97299b865f6bScreenshots or screen recordings on Machttps://support.apple.com/en-hk/guide/mac-help/mh26782/macDan Maloney's AI Handwritten Text Recognition Toolhttps://www.genea.ca/htr-tool/Anthropic: Build and share AI-powered apps with Claudehttps://www.anthropic.com/news/claude-powered-artifactsAnthropic now lets you make apps right from its Claude AI chatbothttps://www.theverge.com/news/693342/anthropic-claude-ai-apps-artifactGrok 4 release livestream on Wednesday at 8pm PThttps://x.com/elonmusk/status/1942325820170907915Elon Musk's AI chatbot Grok launches into antisemitic rant amid updateshttps://www.washingtonpost.com/technology/2025/07/08/elon-musk-grok-ai-antisemitism/Apple's Original AI announcement on June 10, 2024https://www.apple.com/ca/newsroom/2024/06/introducing-apple-intelligence-for-iphone-ipad-and-mac/Apple's Integrates ChatGPT into iPhoneshttps://support.apple.com/en-ca/guide/iphone/iph00fd3c8c2/iosApple Weighs Using Anthropic or OpenAI to Power Siri in Major Reversalhttps://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2025-06-30/apple-weighs-replacing-siri-s-ai-llms-with-anthropic-claude-or-openai-chatgptGoogle Resumes Rollout of AI-Based 'Ask Photos' Image Searchhttps://petapixel.com/2025/06/27/google-resumes-rollout-of-ai-based-ask-photos-image-search/Google Product Manager says Ask Photos paused for quality issueshttps://x.com/jamieasp/status/1929895255844745284Ask Photos coming to more Google Photos usershttps://blog.google/products/photos/updates-ask-photos-search/Ask Photos' Original Announcement May 14, 2024https://petapixel.com/2024/05/14/gemini-powered-ask-photos-brings-an-ai-assistant-to-google-photos/TagsArtificial Intelligence, Genealogy, Family History, AI Transcription, FamilySearch, Ancestry, Document Analysis, Handwritten Text Recognition, Full-Text Search, Screen Capture Tools, Natural Language Processing, Machine Learning, OCR Technology, Dan Maloney, Genealogy Assistant, API Keys, Claude AI, Anthropic, Google Photos, Apple Intelligence, Grok AI, David Ouimette, Truth Sets, Research Tools

Co-hosts Mark Thompson and Steve Little examine the controversial rise of AI image "restoration" and discuss how entirely new images are being generated, rather than the original photos being restored. This is raising concerns about the preservation of authentic family photos.They discuss Mark's reconsideration of canceling his Perplexity subscription after rediscovering its unique strengths for supporting research.The hosts analyze recent court rulings that permit AI training on legally acquired content, plus Disney's ongoing case against Midjourney.This week's Tip of the Week explores how project workspaces in ChatGPT and Claude can greatly simplify your genealogical research.In RapidFire, the hosts cover Meta's aggressive AI hiring spree, the proliferation of AI tools in everyday software, including a new genealogy transcription tool from Dan Maloney, and the importance of reading AI news critically.Timestamps:In the News:06:50 The Pros and Cons of "Restoring" Family Photos with AI23:58 Mark is Cancelling Perplexity... Maybe32:33 AI Copyright Cases Are Starting to Work Their Way Through the CourtsTip of the Week:40:09 How Project Workspaces Help Genealogists Stay OrganizedRapidFire:48:51 Meta Goes on a Hiring Spree56:09 AI Is Everywhere!01:06:00 Reading AI News ResponsiblyResource LinksOpenAI: Introducing 4o Image Generation https://openai.com/index/introducing-4o-image-generation/Perplexity https://www.perplexity.ai/How does Perplexity work? https://www.perplexity.ai/help-center/en/articles/10352895-how-does-perplexity-workAnthropic wins key US ruling on AI training in authors' copyright lawsuit https://www.reuters.com/legal/litigation/anthropic-wins-key-ruling-ai-authors-copyright-lawsuit-2025-06-24/Meta wins AI copyright lawsuit as US judge rules against authors https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2025/jun/26/meta-wins-ai-copyright-lawsuit-as-us-judge-rules-against-authorsDisney, Universal sue image creator Midjourney for copyright infringement https://www.reuters.com/business/media-telecom/disney-universal-sue-image-creator-midjourney-copyright-infringement-2025-06-11/Disney and Universal Sue A.I. Firm for Copyright Infringement https://www.nytimes.com/2025/06/11/business/media/disney-universal-midjourney-ai.htmlProjects in ChatGPThttps://help.openai.com/en/articles/10169521-projects-in-chatgptMeta shares hit all-time high as Mark Zuckerberg goes on AI hiring blitz https://www.cnbc.com/2025/06/30/meta-hits-all-time-mark-zuckerberg-ai-blitz.htmlHere's What Mark Zuckerberg Is Offering Top AI Talent https://www.wired.com/story/mark-zuckerberg-meta-offer-top-ai-talent-300-million/Genealogy Assistant AI Handwritten Text Recognition Tool https://www.genea.ca/htr-tool/Borland Genetics https://borlandgenetics.com/Illusion of Thinking https://machinelearning.apple.com/research/illusion-of-thinkingSimon Willison: Seven replies to the viral Apple reasoning paper -- and why they fall short https://simonwillison.net/2025/Jun/15/viral-apple-reasoning-paper/MIT: Your Brain on ChatGPT https://www.media.mit.edu/projects/your-brain-on-chatgpt/overview/MIT researchers say using ChatGPT can rot your brain. The truth is a little more complicated https://theconversation.com/mit-researchers-say-using-chatgpt-can-rot-your-brain-the-truth-is-a-little-more-complicated-259450Guiding Principles for Responsible AI in Genealogy https://craigen.org/TagsArtificial Intelligence, Genealogy, Family History, AI Tools, Image Generation, AI Ethics, Perplexity, ChatGPT, Claude, Meta, Copyright Law, AI Training, Photo Restoration, Project Management, AI Development, Research Tools, Responsible AI Use, GRIP, AI News Analysis, Vibe Coding, Coalition for Responsible AI in Genealogy, AI Hiring, Dan Maloney, Handwritten Text Recognition

Co-hosts Mark Thompson and Steve Little discuss recent updates from Google Gemini and Anthropic Claude that are reshaping AI capabilities for genealogists. Google's Gemini 2.5 Pro with its massive context window and Claude 4's hybrid reasoning models that excels at both writing and document analysis.They share insights from the RootsTech panel on responsible AI use in genealogy, and introduce the Coalition's five core principles for the response use of AI. The episode features an interview with Jessica Taylor, president of Legacy Tree Genealogists, who discusses how her company is thoughtfully experimenting with AI tools.In RapidFire, they preview ChatGPT 5's anticipated summer release, Meta's $14 billion acquisition to stay competitive, and Adobe Acrobat AI's new multi-document capabilities.Timestamps:In the News:03:45 Google Gemini 2.5 Pro: Massive Context Windows Transform Document Analysis15:09 Claude 4 Opus and Sonnet: Hybrid Reasoning Models for Writing and Research26:30 RootsTech Panel: Coalition for Responsible AI in GenealogyInterview:31:28 Jessica Taylor, CEO of Legacy Tree Genealogists, on her cautious approach to AI AdoptionRapidFire:45:07 ChatGPT 5 Coming Soon: One Model to Rule Them All51:08 Meta's $14.8 Billion Scale AI Acquisition56:42 Adobe Acrobat AI Assistant Adds Multi-Document AnalysisResource LinksGoogle I/O Conference Highlightshttps://blog.google/technology/ai/google-io-2025-all-our-announcements/Anthropic Announces Claude 4https://www.anthropic.com/news/claude-4Anthropic's new Claude 4 AI models can reason over many stepshttps://techcrunch.com/2025/05/22/anthropics-new-claude-4-ai-models-can-reason-over-many-steps/Coalition for Responsible AI in Genealogyhttps://craigen.org/Jessica M. Taylorhttps://www.apgen.org/users/jessica-m-taylorLegacy Tree Genealogistshttps://www.legacytree.com/Rootstechhttps://www.familysearch.org/en/rootstech/ChatGPT 5 is Coming Soonhttps://www.tomsguide.com/ai/chatgpt/chatgpt-5-is-coming-soon-heres-what-we-knowMeta's $14.8 billion Scale AI deal latest test of AI partnershipshttps://www.reuters.com/sustainability/boards-policy-regulation/metas-148-billion-scale-ai-deal-latest-test-ai-partnerships-2025-06-13/A frustrated Zuckerberg makes his biggest AI bethttps://www.cnbc.com/2025/06/10/zuckerberg-makes-metas-biggest-bet-on-ai-14-billion-scale-ai-deal.htmlAdobe upgrades Acrobat AI chatbot to add multi-document analysishttps://www.androidauthority.com/adobe-ai-assistant-acrobat-3451988/TagsArtificial Intelligence, Genealogy, Family History, AI Tools, Google Gemini, Claude AI, OpenAI, ChatGPT, Meta AI, Adobe Acrobat, Responsible AI, Coalition for Responsible AI in Genealogy, RootsTech, AI Ethics, Document Analysis, AI Writing Tools, Hybrid Reasoning Models, Context Windows, Professional Genealogy, Legacy Tree Genealogists, Jessica Taylor, AI Integration, Multi-Document Analysis, AI Acquisitions

Get ready for a powerhouse convo on “To The Point” with host Chris Yano and roofing legend Steve Little

Co-hosts Mark Thompson and Steve Little explore OpenAI's revolutionary update to ChatGPT 4o's image generation capabilities, which now creates photorealistic images with accurate text and consistent characters across multiple images.They interview Jarrett Ross from The GeneaVlogger YouTube channel, who shares how he uses AI in his business and in his projects, including an innovative facial recognition project that identifies people in historical photographs from Poland.The hosts also examine OpenAI's O3 model's groundbreaking image analysis abilities, demonstrating how it can now automatically zoom in on handwritten text and reason through complex photographic analysis.This episode showcases how AI image tools are transforming genealogical research while emphasizing the importance of responsible use.Timestamps:In the News:06:26 ChatGPT 4o Image Generation: Photorealism and Text Accuracy RevolutionInterview30:48   Interview with Jarrett Ross: AI Facial Recognition in GenealogyRapidFire:52:01 ChatGPT O3: Advanced Image Analysis with Reasoning CapabilitiesResource Links:ChatGPT 4o Image Generationhttps://openai.com/index/introducing-4o-image-generation/What OpenAI Did -- Ethan Mollickhttps://www.oneusefulthing.org/p/what-openai-didThe GeneaVlogger YouTube Channelhttps://www.youtube.com/channel/UCm_QNoNtgi2Sk4H9Y2SInmgOpenAI Releases new o3 and o4 Mini modelshttps://openai.com/index/introducing-o3-and-o4-mini/On Jagged AGI: o3, Gemini 2.5, and everything after -- Ethan Mollickhttps://www.oneusefulthing.org/p/on-jagged-agi-o3-gemini-25-and-everythingTags:Artificial Intelligence, Genealogy, Family History, OpenAI, ChatGPT, Image Generation, Facial Recognition, Photo Analysis, AI Tools, GeneaVlogger, Jarrett Ross, Jewish Genealogy, Historical Photos, Document Analysis, OCR Technology, Handwriting Recognition, Photo Restoration, AI Ethics, Responsible AI Use, Image Authentication, DALL-E, O3 Model, Reasoning Models, Archive Photos, Community Projects

The Grinder is a sitcom that aired on FOX from 2015–2016 starring Rob Lowe as Dean Sanderson, a TV actor famous for playing a lawyer who returns to his hometown and attempts to practice law alongside his actual attorney brother, Stewart (Fred Savage). The show cleverly parodied legal dramas by contrasting Dean's melodramatic, fictional courtroom experience with the realities of practicing law. Critics praised the series, with many considering it to be one of the standout comedies of the season. Despite its critical acclaim, The Grinder struggled with low viewership which led FOX to cancel the series after just one season, a decision that disappointed fans and cast members alike. Will The S1E1 guys object to FOX's decision? Listen as they deep dive The Grinder's pilot episode. Starring: Rob Lowe, Fred Savage, Mary Elizabeth Ellis, Natalie Morales, Hana Hayes, Connor Kalopsis, William Devane, Steve Little, Brian Huskey, & Kumail Nanjiani www.S1E1POD.com Instagram & X (Twitter): @S1E1POD

DUKE ELLINGTON AND HIS ORCHESTRA “AND HIS MOTHER CALLED HIM BILL” New York, August 28, 1967Blood count (ct out), Upper Manhattan Medical Group, Raincheck (ct out), Lotus blossom (DE piano solo)Cat Anderson, Herbie Jones, Cootie Williams, Mercer Ellington (tp) Clark Terry (flhrn) Lawrence Brown, Buster Cooper, Chuck Connors (tb) Jimmy Hamilton (cl,ts) Russell Procope (as,cl) Johnny Hodges (as) Paul Gonsalves (ts) Harry Carney (bar,cl,b-cl) Duke Ellington (p) Aaron Bell (b) Steve Little (d) JIMMY RUSHING “AND HIS ALL STARS” Brooklyn, NY, August 16, 1955Everyday (I have the blues), Evenin', Don't cry babyJimmy Rushing (vcl) acc by Emmett Berry (tp) Lawrence Brown (tb) Rudy Powell (as,cl) Buddy Tate (ts) Pete Johnson (p) Freddie Green (g) Walter Page (b) Jo Jones (d) BUCK CLAYTON “BUCKIN' THE BLUES” Brooklyn, NY, March 14, 1957 Buck huckles, Claytonia, The queen's expressBuck Clayton (tp) Vic Dickenson (tb) Earl Warren (as) Hank Jones (p) Kenny Burrell (el-g) Aaron Bell (b) Jo Jones (d) Continue reading Puro Jazz 27 de mayo, 2025 at PuroJazz.

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Co-hosts Mark Thompson and Steve Little explore how DeepSeek has dramatically changed the AI landscape by releasing a powerful, inexpensive, open-source model that challenges American dominance in AI.They celebrate the first anniversary of FamilySearch's Full-Text Search, which has expanded from three collections to three thousand in just one-year, revolutionizing access to billions of previously unsearchable records.Mark and Steve examine how Google and Microsoft are integrating AI into their productivity platforms, making these tools accessible to mainstream family historians at minimal cost.This week's Tip of the Week demystifies the difference between instructional and reasoning AI models, helping genealogists choose the right tool for the right job.In RapidFire, they discuss the ambitious $500 billion Project Stargate, major model updates from Gemini and Grok, and how Deep Research capabilities are becoming standard across all AI platforms.Timestamps:In the News:04:34 DeepSeek Shakes the AI World: Game-Changing Model from China15:51 FamilySearch Full-Text Search Turns One: From Thousands to Billions of Records23:33 Google and Microsoft Go All-In: AI Integrated into Workspace ToolsTip of the Week:29:22 Know Your Model: Understanding Instructional vs. Reasoning AIRapidFire:42:25 The Stargate Project: $500 Billion AI Infrastructure Initiative45:38 Major Model Updates: Gemini 2.0 and Grok 3 Beta Released48:41 Deep Research Becomes Industry Standard: Available Across All Major PlatformsResource Links:DeepSeek Backgrounderhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/DeepSeekFamily Search Free Text Searchhttps://www.familysearch.org/search/full-text/collection/listFree Text Search of Ireland, Properties, from 1298 to 1975https://www.familysearch.org/search/full-text/collection/M9J1-ZYLCopilot is now included in Microsoft 365 Personal and Familyhttps://www.microsoft.com/en-us/microsoft-365/blog/2025/01/16/copilot-is-now-included-in-microsoft-365-personal-and-family/Google AI now Included in Workspace Planshttps://workspace.google.com/blog/product-announcements/empowering-businesses-with-AIIntroducing OpenAI o1https://openai.com/o1/OpenAI o3-minihttps://openai.com/index/openai-o3-mini/Announcing The Stargate Projecthttps://openai.com/index/announcing-the-stargate-project/Gemini 2.0 is now available to everyonehttps://blog.google/technology/google-deepmind/gemini-model-updates-february-2025/Grok 3 Beta — The Age of Reasoning Agentshttps://x.ai/blog/grok-3Try Deep Researchhttps://blog.google/products/gemini/google-gemini-deep-research/Introducing deep research from OpenAIhttps://openai.com/index/introducing-deep-research/Introducing Perplexity Deep Researchhttps://www.perplexity.ai/hub/blog/introducing-perplexity-deep-researchTags:Artificial Intelligence, Technology, Genealogy, Family History, DeepSeek, AI Models, FamilySearch, Full-Text Search, Open Source AI, Microsoft 365, Google Workspace, Reasoning Models, Instructional Models, Language Models, Stargate Project, AI Infrastructure, Research Tools, Deep Research, AI Capabilities

Co-hosts Mark Thompson and Steve Little share their predictions for artificial intelligence developments in 2025, with a special focus on how these changes will affect genealogists and family historians.They explore the emergence of AI agents, the shift to running language models locally on personal devices, and the introduction of chatbots to social media platforms. Mark and Steve also discuss how AI writing tools will become mainstream, even as costs decrease and capabilities increase.Their predictions include both opportunities and challenges, examining which tools may thrive and which may disappoint in the coming year. They conclude with "anti-predictions" – capabilities that, despite high hopes, probably won't materialize in 2025.Timestamps:What We Can Look Forward to In 202501:02 AI Agents: The Next Big Thing08:06 Local Language Models: Improved Privacy and Security13:09 Social Media Chatbots: Coming to Your Groups18:24 AI Writing Tools: The New Normal24:16 AI Costs: Dropping Fast30:43 The AI Horse Race: Who Will Lead?Anti-Predictions: What Won't Happen in 202536:01 Handwritten Text Recognition40:21 AI Generated Family Trees and Diagrams44:06 Generated Text in ImagesResource Links:Using Claude for 'Computer Use' Tasks https://docs.anthropic.com/en/docs/build-with-claude/computer-useOpenAI's Operator Agent https://openai.com/index/introducing-operator/Facebook's New AI Tool for Groups https://aigenealogyinsights.com/2024/10/22/exploring-facebooks-new-ai-tool-for-groups/What to Know About DeepSeek and How It Is Upending A.I. https://www.nytimes.com/2025/01/27/technology/what-is-deepseek-china-ai.htmlTrump's $500B Stargate AI Initiative https://www.forbes.com/sites/ronshevlin/2025/01/23/trumps-ai-push-understanding-the-500-billion-stargate-initiative/Tags:artificial intelligence, technology, genealogy, family history, AI predictions, AI agents, local AI, social media, chatbots, AI writing, language models, OpenAI, DeepSeek, privacy, security, AI costs, machine learning, computer automation, research tools, future technology

Co-hosts Mark Thompson and Steve Little explore Google's powerful end-of-year releases that challenge other AI platforms. They examine Google's Deep Research tool and its ability to quickly create comprehensive research reports by combining information from multiple sources.Next, they discuss Facebook's controversial introduction of AI assistants to Facebook groups and what this might mean for genealogy communities.The hosts review Google's NotebookLM's significant updates, including enhanced audio capabilities and collaborative features that could transform how genealogists work together.This week's Tip of the Week demonstrates how ChatGPT Projects can organize and enhance genealogical research, with Steve using his approach to a 2025 genealogy do-over as an example.In RapidFire, they cover Google's new fact benchmark, Gemini 2.0's release, AI-enhanced search results, and OpenAI's O3 announcement.Timestamps:In the News:06:44 Google Deep Research: The New Challenger to Perplexity18:03 Facebook Groups Get AI Assistants24:57 NotebookLM: Major Updates for Collaborative ProjectsTip of the Week:32:15 ChatGPT Projects: Organizing Your Genealogy Do-OverRapidFire:41:52 Google's New Fact Benchmark44:00 Gemini 2.0 Release48:34 Google AI-Enhanced Search Results54:48 OpenAI's O3 Model AnnouncementResource Links:AI Seminar at the Victoria Genealogical Societyhttps://victoriags.org/content.aspx?page_id=4091&club_id=554933&item_id=2488526Legacy Family Tree Webinars: "Genealogy Meets AI: Panel Discussion"https://familytreewebinars.com/webinar/genealogy-meets-ai-panel-discussion/Introducing Gemini 2.0: our new AI model for the agentic erahttps://blog.google/technology/google-deepmind/google-gemini-ai-update-december-2024/Certified Arborist Facebook Grouphttps://www.facebook.com/groups/12652295162Exploring Facebook's New AI Tool for Groupshttps://aigenealogyinsights.com/2024/10/22/exploring-facebooks-new-ai-tool-for-groups/NotebookLM gets a new look, audio interactivity and a premium versionhttps://blog.google/technology/google-labs/notebooklm-new-features-december-2024/Using Projects in ChatGPThttps://help.openai.com/en/articles/10169521-using-projects-in-chatgptA new benchmark for evaluating the accuracy of large language modelshttps://deepmind.google/discover/blog/facts-grounding-a-new-benchmark-for-evaluating-the-factuality-of-large-language-models/AI Overviews in Search are coming to more places around the worldhttps://blog.google/products/search/ai-overviews-search-october-2024/OpenAI announces new o3 modelshttps://techcrunch.com/2024/12/20/openai-announces-new-o3-model/TagsAI, Artificial Intelligence, Genealogy, Family History, Technology, OpenAI, Google, Perplexity, ChatGPT, Meta, Content Licensing, AI Conferences, AI Outage, Ethical AI, Disclosure, Genealogy Research, OpenAI Licensing, Google AI Issues, Perplexity Pages, ChatGPT Updates, Meta AI Developments, Grok.AI, AI in Genealogy, AI Tools, Technology in Genealogy, AI Transparency, AI and Privacy

Co-hosts Mark Thompson and Steve Little explore OpenAI's "12 Days of OpenAI" campaign, particularly focusing on their new reasoning models and the expanded availability of Canvas across all ChatGPT models.They examine how ChatGPT's new camera view in Advanced Voice Mode transforms mobile research capabilities, demonstrating real-world applications for genealogists.This week's Tip of the Week reveals how to get the most out of free AI tools by leveraging each one's strengths: Gemini for summarization, Perplexity for research, ChatGPT for reasoning, and Claude for writing.In RapidFire, they discuss Apple's cautious AI updates in iOS 18.2, the release of GPT Search for free account holders, Harvard's million-book donation for AI training, and OpenAI's festive Santa Chat feature.Timestamps:In the News:02:41 12 Days of OpenAI: New Features and Updates12:15 Canvas Integration: Now Available Across All Models17:24 Advanced Voice Mode: ChatGPT Gets Camera ViewTip of the Week:23:29 Maximizing Free AI Tools: The Right Tool for Each TaskRapidFire:35:52 Apple Intelligence: iOS 18.2 AI Features40:20 Free GPT Search Goes Public45:22 Harvard's Million-Book Donation for AI Training51:52 OpenAI's Santa Chat ModeResource LinksChatGPThttps://chatgpt.com/12 Days of OpenAIhttps://openai.com/12-days/ChatGPT Canvas Featurehttps://www.tomsguide.com/ai/chatgpt/openai-announces-official-launch-of-canvas-for-writing-and-coding-heres-whats-newChatGPT Projects Featurehttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FcB97h3vrzkGPT Search is now free https://www.forbes.com/sites/johnkoetsier/2024/12/16/chatgpt-search-now-free-for-all-heres-why-you-should-try-it/Advanced Voice Mode with Visionhttps://www.tomsguide.com/ai/chatgpt/chatgpt-advanced-voice-with-vision-just-launched-heres-how-to-try-itChatGPT Search and the Chrome Extensionhttps://openai.com/index/introducing-chatgpt-search/Claudehttps://claude.aiClaude Projectshttps://www.anthropic.com/news/projectsGeminihttps://gemini.google.comPerplexity AIhttps://www.perplexity.aiPerplexity Pageshttps://www.perplexity.ai/hub/blog/perplexity-pagesApple Intelligencehttps://www.apple.com/apple-intelligenceHarvard Digital Collectionshttps://hls.harvard.edu/today/harvards-library-innovation-lab-launches-initiative-to-use-public-domain-data-to-train-artificial-intelligence/https://institutionaldatainitiative.org/ChatGPT Santa Modehttps://help.openai.com/en/articles/10139238-santa-s-voice-in-chatgptTags (broad to specific, unique terms)Artificial Intelligence, Genealogy, OpenAI, Family History Research, Voice Technology, ChatGPT, AI Tools, Content Creation, Canvas, 12 Days of OpenAI

Co-hosts Mark Thompson and Steve Little reveal their top recommendations for AI tools worth paying for in 2025. They also discuss which AI tools aren't worth paying for in 2025. One of them might surprise you!Next, Mark and Steve begin their review of OpenAI's "12 Days of OpenAI" announcements, beginning with the release of their enhanced O1 reasoning model. This new model will help you plan your family history research.This week's Tip of the Week challenges conventional thinking about AI hallucinations, suggesting ways to leverage this characteristic as a feature rather than a bug.In RapidFire, Mark and Steve examine Microsoft's Copilot Vision beta release, Apple's cautious AI rollout strategy, Google's new memory feature in Gemini, and XAI's significant funding round.Timestamps:In The News:03:10 AI Tools Worth Paying For in 202519:48 Specialty AI Tools to Consider in 202526:46 AI Tools Not Worth Paying For in 202532:26 OpenAI's 12 Days of Gifts BeginsTip of the Week:40:10 Treat AI Hallucinations as a Feature, not a BugRapidFire:50:06 Microsoft Copilot Vision Beta Launch53:18 Apple's Intelligence Rollout Plans56:20 Google Gemini Adds Memory Feature59:34 XAI's $6 Billion Funding RoundResource LinksChatGPT Plushttps://openai.com/index/chatgpt-plus/ChatGPT Advanced Voice Modehttps://help.openai.com/en/articles/8400625-voice-mode-faqClaude Prohttps://claude.ai/Perplexity Prohttps://www.perplexity.ai/proAcrobat AI Assistanthttps://helpx.adobe.com/ca/acrobat/using/generative-ai.htmlEleven Labshttps://elevenlabs.io/Mid Journeyhttps://www.midjourney.com/Microsoft Copilot Prohttps://www.microsoft.com/microsoft-365/copilotGrammarlyhttps://www.grammarly.com/ChatGPT O1 Modelhttps://openai.com/o1/ChatGPT O1 Prohttps://openai.com/index/introducing-chatgpt-pro/Microsoft Copilot Visionhttps://www.microsoft.com/en-us/microsoft-copilot/blog/2024/12/05/copilot-vision-now-in-preview-a-new-way-to-browse/Apple Intelligencehttps://www.apple.com/ca/apple-intelligence/Sirihttps://www.apple.com/siri/Gemini Memory Featurehttps://techcrunch.com/2024/11/19/googles-gemini-chatbot-now-has-memory/X AI Platformhttps://x.ai/Tags (broad to specific, unique terms)Artificial Intelligence, Technology, Genealogy, Family History, Machine Learning, AI Tools, AI Product Reviews, AI Pricing, Voice Technology, Image Generation, Research Tools, AI Ethics, Content Creation, Professional Research, Language Models

Co-hosts Mark Thompson and Steve Little explore the AI developments that had the biggest impact on genealogy in 2024.This week's episode spotlights MyHeritage's newest viral tool, LiveMemory, which brings old photos to life through animation. Next, Mark and Steve count down the year's top AI breakthroughs for genealogists. The groundbreaking FamilySearch full-text search takes the top spot by providing unprecedented access to huge collections of handwritten records. Mark and Steve also discuss the genealogy community's migration to Bluesky.Don't miss this week's tip of the week, which provides practical tips for using AI to help you research your ancestors' home countries. This week's rapid fire stories include major industry developments at Google, OpenAI, and Amazon. This episode showcases how artificial intelligence is revolutionizing family history research for genealogists at all levels.Timestamps:IN THE NEWS03:02 MyHeritage's Goes Viral (again!) with LiveMemory10:56 Top Five AI Breakthroughs for Genealogists in 2024Chatbots Learn How to Reason (OpenAI's o1-preview)Content Creation Within Chatbots (Artifacts, Canvas)Collaborative Research Spaces (NotebookLM, Claude Projects, Perplexity Spaces)AI-Enhanced Search (SearchGPT, Perplexity, Google)FamilySearch Unlocks Handwritten Records27:27 The Great Bluesky MigrationTIP OF THE WEEK32:17 Use AI To Research the Home CountryRAPIDFIRE40:41 Google Loses Antitrust Cases 44:33 OpenAI Announces Web Browser Initiative48:25 Amazon's $4B Anthropic InvestmentResource LinksIN THE NEWSMyHeritage's Goes Viral (again!) with LiveMemoryLiveMemoryhttps://www.myheritage.com/livememory/Runway MLhttps://runwayml.com/TOP 5 AI BREAKTHROUGHSIntroducing OpenAI o1-previewhttps://openai.com/index/introducing-openai-o1-preview/Claude Artifactshttps://support.anthropic.com/en/articles/9487310-what-are-artifacts-and-how-do-i-use-themChatGPT Canvashttps://openai.com/index/introducing-canvas/Google NotebookLMhttps://notebooklm.google.com/Claude Projectshttps://www.anthropic.com/news/projectsPerplexity Spaceshttps://www.perplexity.ai/hub/faq/what-are-spacesIntroducing ChatGPT Searchhttps://openai.com/index/introducing-chatgpt-search/Perplexityhttps://www.perplexity.ai/Googlehttps://www.google.com/FamilySearch Full-Text Searchhttps://www.familysearch.org/en/help/helpcenter/article/find-the-new-full-text-search-for-historical-recordsBLUESKY MIGRATIONBluesky Socialhttps://bsky.app/Mark Thompson's Bluesky Handlehttps://bsky.app/profile/makingfamilyhistory.comSteve Little's Bluesky Handlehttps://bsky.app/profile/digitalarchivst.bsky.socialRAPIDFIREGoogle Loses Antitrust Caseshttps://www.npr.org/2024/08/05/nx-s1-5064624/google-justice-department-antitrust-searchhttps://www.reuters.com/legal/google-asks-us-appeals-court-reject-app-store-monopoly-verdict-2024-11-27/https://www.thenewdaily.com.au/life/tech/2024/11/26/chrome-google-forced-saleOpenAI Announces Web Browser Initiativehttps://www.pcmag.com/news/openai-working-on-a-web-browser-to-compete-with-google-chromehttps://www.reuters.com/technology/artificial-intelligence/openai-considers-taking-google-with-browser-information-reports-2024-11-21/Amazon's $4B Anthropic Investmenthttps://www.theverge.com/2024/11/22/24303185/amazon-anthropic-investment-ai-alexaTags AI, Artificial Intelligence, Genealogy, Family History, Technology, OpenAI, Google, Perplexity, ChatGPT, Anthropic, Genealogy AI, MyHeritage LiveMemory, Family History Technology, AI Photo Animation, FamilySearch Full-Text Search, Genealogy Search Tools, Historical Photo Animation, Family History Research, AI Genealogy Tools, Digital Genealogy, Handwritten Records Search, Ancestral Research, MyHeritage Tools, Genealogy Technology, Family Photographs, FamilySearch Tools, Genealogy Social Media, Bluesky Genealogy, AI Research Tools, Ancestry Research, Foreign Genealogy Research, Family History Software, Genealogy Databases, AI Document Analysis, Historical Documents, Genealogy Community, Genealogy Tips, Photo Preservation, Genealogy Innovations, Family History Preservation

#1 ACS #671 (feat. Kathleen Madigan, Stefanie Wilder Taylor, Lynette Carolla, Alison Rosen and Bryan Bishop) (2011) #2 ACS #692 (feat. Larry Miller, Alison Rosen and Bryan Bishop) (2011) #3 ACS #696 (feat. Steve Little, Alison Rosen and Bryan Bishop) (2011) Hosted by Superfan Giovanni Request clips: Classics@adamcarolla.com Subscribe and Watch Clips on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@AdamCarollaCorner

Co-hosts Mark Thompson and Steve Little discuss how Anthropic's Claude 3.5 Sonnet upgrade has made Claude an even better AI writer. This make's it even easier to write a great research report. They move on to explore OpenAI's new desktop apps and Advanced Voice Mode, discussing how voice interaction could transform genealogical research, particularly for those who prefer speaking to typing. Combining search and AI in the same tool will be a huge timesaver for genealogy research. This week's Tip of the Week reveals the best ways to leverage free AI tools for family history research. There's no need to pay for AI tools if you only need these features a few times a day.In RapidFire, they examine the future of AI agents, Apple's cautious AI rollout in iOS 18.1, and Meta's strategic content partnership with Reuters.Timestamps:In the News:02:20  Claude 3.5 Sonnet (new): AI Writing Reaches New Heights06:50 ChatGPT Desktop Apps: Now Available for Both Macs and PCs14:00 AI Search Gets Real: AI-Enhanced Search From ChatGPTTip of the Week:19:20 Free AI Tools: How To Get Premium AI Results For FreeRapidFire:26:50 AI Agents: The Future of Computer Interaction31:20 Apple Intelligence: IOS 18.1 Starts the Rollout of AI for Apple40:26 Meta's Reuters Deal: The First (of Many?) Content Partnerships for FacebookResource Links:ANTHROPICClaude 3.5 Sonnethttps://www.anthropic.com/claude/sonnetProjects featurehttps://www.anthropic.com/news/projectsOPENAIChatGPThttps://chatgpt.com/Desktop Appshttps://openai.com/chatgpt/desktop/Advanced Voice Modehttps://help.openai.com/en/articles/8400625-voice-mode-faqGPT Searchhttps://openai.com/index/introducing-chatgpt-search/APPLEiOS 18.1https://www.apple.com/ca/newsroom/2024/10/apple-intelligence-is-available-today-on-iphone-ipad-and-mac/Apple Intelligencehttps://www.apple.com/apple-intelligence/Sirihttps://www.apple.com/siri/Apple Photo Searchhttps://9to5mac.com/2024/09/25/photos-search-in-ios-181-actually-works-thanks-to-apple-intelligence/METAMeta AIhttps://ai.meta.com/meta-ai/Reuters Partnershiphttps://www.reuters.com/technology/artificial-intelligence/meta-platforms-use-reuters-news-content-ai-chatbot-2024-10-25/MISCPerplexityhttps://www.perplexity.aiMicrosoft Copilothttps://www.microsoft.com/microsoft-365/copilotTags:Artificial Intelligence, Technology, Cloud Computing, Machine Learning, Family History, Genealogy, AI, Mobile Technology, Natural Language Processing, Large Language Models, Generative AI, AI Search, Voice Assistants, AI Agents, Research Tools, Content Creation, Digital Writing, Document Analysis, Privacy, Data Protection, AI Ethics, Claude 3.5 Sonnet, ChatGPT, Apple Intelligence, Meta AI, Perplexity, Microsoft Copilot, iOS 18.1, Siri, AI Writing, Desktop Applications, Mobile Apps, Photo Organization, Email Tools, Content Partnerships, Source Citation, Voice Interaction, User Experience, Cloud Services, Free Tools, Premium Features, Tool Comparison, Workflow Optimization, Family Research, Genealogy Tools, Research Reports, Narrative Writing, Genealogists, Family Historians, Tech Writers, Researchers, Digital Creators

Co-hosts Mark Thompson and Steve Little examine OpenAI's new Canvas feature, demonstrating how this split-screen interface revolutionizes document creation and editing for genealogists. Locality guides and research reports are used as practical examples.They explore how AI platforms like Canvas and Perplexity Spaces are challenging traditional software, suggesting a future where content creation happens primarily within AI environments rather than conventional office applications.This week's Tip of the Week addresses critical privacy considerations when using AI tools, introducing the practical "Water Cooler Rule" for protecting sensitive genealogical data.In RapidFire, they discuss Apple's research on AI reasoning, NotebookLM's enhanced audio overview capabilities for turning historical documents into conversations, and preview Apple's upcoming AI features in iOS 18.1.Whether you're embracing AI tools or just starting to explore them, this episode offers valuable insights into the evolving landscape of AI's and genealogical research.Timestamps:In the News:04:15 OpenAI Canvas: The New Frontier of AI Writing12:40 The Great Shift: AI Platforms vs Traditional Software26:20 Perplexity Spaces: Collaborative AI Research BreakthroughTip of the Week:31:30 Privacy & Protection: Smart Guidelines for AI Use in Family HistoryRapidFire:39:15 Apple's Research on AI Reasoning: What It Means for Users43:40 NotebookLM's Game-Changing Audio Features49:25 Apple Intelligence: iOS 18.1 PreviewResource LinksOpenAIChatGPT: https://chatgpt.com/ Canvas feature: https://openai.com/index/introducing-canvas/AnthropicClaude 3.5 Sonnet: https://www.anthropic.com/claude/sonnet Artifacts feature: https://support.anthropic.com/en/articles/9487310-what-are-artifacts-and-how-do-i-use-themProjects feature: https://www.anthropic.com/news/projects GoogleNotebookLM: https://notebooklm.google.com/ Google Docs: https://docs.google.com/ Google Slides: https://slides.google.com/  Audio Overview feature: https://blog.google/technology/ai/notebooklm-update-october-2024/PerplexitySpaces (collaborative feature): https://www.perplexity.ai/hub/faq/what-are-spacesPages feature: https://www.perplexity.ai/hub/blog/perplexity-pagesMicrosoftMicrosoft Office: https://www.office.com/ Microsoft Word: https://www.microsoft.com/word Microsoft Excel: https://www.microsoft.com/excel Outlook with Copilot: https://www.microsoft.com/outlook AppleApple Intelligence: https://www.apple.com/apple-intelligence/ Siri: https://www.apple.com/siri/ VOICE ASSISTANTS:Siri (Apple): https://www.apple.com/siri/ Alexa (Amazon): https://developer.amazon.com/alexa Google Assistant: https://assistant.google.com/ GENEALOGY RESOURCES:North Carolina Genealogical Society: https://www.ncgenealogy.org/ National Genealogical Society (NGS): https://www.ngsgenealogy.org/ East Coast Genetic Genealogy Seminar: https://ecggc.org/ Internet Archive (archive.org): https://archive.org/ RESEARCH TOOLS:Leeds Method (DNA analysis): https://www.danaleeds.com/the-leeds-method/ Custom GPTs: https://openai.com/index/introducing-gpts/PRESENTERS/EXPERTS MENTIONED:David McCorkle: http://davidmccorkle.com/ Dana Leeds: https://www.danaleeds.com/ Professor Ethan Mullock (author of "Cointelligence"): https://www.oneusefulthing.org/p/i-cyborg-using-co-intelligenceTagsFamily History, Genealogy, Artificial Intelligence, AI, Generative AI, OpenAI Canvas, Canvas, AI Writing, Privacy Tips, Apple AI, Perplexity Spaces, NotebookLM, ChatGPT, Claude, Anthropic, Microsoft Office, Google Notebook, Perplexity, iOS 18, Genealogy Tools, Family Research, DNA Genealogy, Genealogy Research, Family Historian, AI Tools, Content Creation, Digital Writing, Collaboration, Workspaces, Smart Assistants, Document Editing, Research Tools, Writing Tools, Data Privacy, Data Protection, AI Privacy, AI Ethics, Target Audience: Genealogists, Family Historians, Tech Writers, Researchers, Digital Creators.

Co-hosts Mark Thompson and Steve Little recap their experiences at the East Coast Genetic Genealogy Conference last week, highlighting Dana Leeds' innovative use of AI for efficiently created charts using the Leeds Method.They then explore OpenAI's new Canvas feature, comparing it to Claude's Artifacts, and discuss its potential for genealogical research.Next, Mark and Steve review Google's Notebook LM, examining its ability to turn documents into engaging podcasts and its usefulness for genealogical research.Don't miss this week's Tip of the Week, which focuses on the importance of disclosing AI-generated content in genealogical work.In RapidFire, they cover Google Photos' upcoming AI-powered search feature, Nobel Prizes awarded to AI researchers, Microsoft's reintroduction of screen capture technology as Copilot Vision, and more.Whether you're a tech enthusiast or a family historian, this episode offers valuable insights into the latest AI advancements and their impact on genealogy.Timestamps:In the News:02:51 Recap of East Coast Genetic Genealogy Conference07:35 Dana Leeds' innovative use of AI for the Leeds Method12:52 OpenAI's new Canvas feature20:54 Google's Notebook LM and its applications in genealogyTip of the Week:29:16 Disclosing AI-generated content in genealogical workRapidFire:42:34 Google Photos' upcoming AI-powered search47:26 Nobel Prizes awarded to AI researchers53:16 Microsoft's Copilot Vision: Reintroduction of screen capture technology57:32 Closing thoughts and announcementsResource LinksEast Coast Genetic Genealogy Conferencehttps://ecggc.org/The Leeds Method with Claude Artifactshttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tp5DzuLeaN4ChatGPThttps://openai.com/chatgptClaude AIhttps://www.anthropic.com/claudeOpenAIhttps://openai.com/Google Notebook LMhttps://notebooklm.google/FamilySearchhttps://www.familysearch.orgMyHeritagehttps://www.myheritage.com/Google Photoshttps://photos.google.com/Nobel Prizehttps://www.nobelprize.org/prizes/physics/2024/summary/https://www.nobelprize.org/prizes/chemistry/2024/summary/Microsoft Copilot Visionhttps://www.microsoft.com/en-us/microsoft-copilot/blog/2024/10/01/introducing-copilot-labs-and-copilot-vision/Adobehttps://www.adobe.com/Google DeepMindhttps://deepmind.google/Microsoft Edgehttps://www.microsoft.com/edgeTagsArtificial Intelligence, Genealogy, Family History, Technology, OpenAI, Google, Microsoft, ChatGPT, Claude, Canvas, Artifacts, Notebook LM, AI Ethics, AI Disclosure, East Coast Genetic Genealogy Conference, Leeds Method, AI in Research, Google Photos, Nobel Prize, AI Researchers, Copilot Vision, Screen Capture, AI Advancements, Genealogical Research, AI Tools, AI News, Responsible AI Use, AI Privacy, AI Safety, AI Development

In this episode of Roofing Road Trips, host Megan Ellsworth sits down with Gary Howes, Steve Little, and R.J. Radobenko to discuss their journey in bringing the first-ever U.S. team to the International Federation for the Roofing Trades (IFD) competition. They explore the challenges and excitement of preparing their teams for this prestigious event, where they will compete against the best young roofers from around the world. The conversation touches on the unique aspects of the competition, the preparation process and the potential impact this experience will have on the U.S. roofing industry.  Learn more at RoofersCoffeeShop.com!  https://www.rooferscoffeeshop.com/     Are you a contractor looking for resources? Become an R-Club Member today! https://www.rooferscoffeeshop.com/rcs-club-sign-up     Sign up for the Week in Roofing!  https://www.rooferscoffeeshop.com/sign-up     Follow Us!   https://www.facebook.com/rooferscoffeeshop/   https://www.linkedin.com/company/rooferscoffeeshop-com   https://x.com/RoofCoffeeShop   https://www.instagram.com/rooferscoffeeshop/   https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCAQTC5U3FL9M-_wcRiEEyvw   https://www.pinterest.com/rcscom/   https://www.tiktok.com/@rooferscoffeeshop   https://www.rooferscoffeeshop.com/rss     #RoofersCoffeeShop #MetalCoffeeShop #AskARoofer #CoatingsCoffeeShop #RoofingProfessionals #RoofingContractors #RoofingIndustry 

Co-hosts Mark Thompson and Steve Little are excited to share OpenAI's Advanced Voice Mode, which enables natural conversations with AI, and how FamilySearch's expanded full-text Search is revolutionizing records accessibility. They stress responsible AI use throughout this week's episode, introducing a new series on verifying the accuracy of AI-generated information.Send your stories of AI accuracy (or accuracy failures) to ResponsibleAI@MakingFamilyHistory.comNew tools like Google's Notebook LM and Apple's Visual Intelligence promise to enhance research capabilities. Throughout, cohosts Mark Thompson and Steve Little emphasize the need for accuracy and verification of facts to combat AI "hallucinations."Genealogists must adapt their skills to leverage these powerful tools as AI evolves.The episode highlights the exciting potential and the critical importance of responsible AI use in family history research.Timestamps:In the News02:11 ChatGPT Advanced Voice Mode Finally Arrives23:26 FamilySearch Full-Text Search Adds a Million Canadian Probate and Homestead RecordsTip of the Week30:42 Responsible AI Series Debuts: Accuracy Takes Center StageRapidFire38:55 Google's NotebookLM is Easy, Powerful Collaborative Workspace46:17 Google Battles Hallucinations with Real-World Data49:28 Apple's Visual Intelligence Promises to Enhance Historical ExplorationResource LinksEmail your stories of accurate AI done right (and complete accuracy failures) to responsibleai@makingfamilyhistory.comOpenAI Advanced Voice Mode: https://help.openai.com/en/articles/8400625-voice-mode-faqMeta debuts AI chatbot voiced by celebrities: https://www.cbsnews.com/news/meta-ai-chatbot-celebrity-voices-judi-dench-john-cena-awkwafina-mark-zuckerberg/Google Gemini Live: https://blog.google/products/gemini/made-by-google-gemini-ai-updates/FamilySearch Full-text Search: https://www.familysearch.org/search/full-textGoogle Notebook LM: https://blog.google/technology/ai/notebooklm-audio-overviews/Google DataGemma: https://blog.google/technology/ai/google-datagemma-ai-llm/Apple Visual Intelligence: https://www.apple.com/newsroom/2024/09/apple-introduces-iphone-16-and-iphone-16-plus/Tagsartificial intelligence, genealogy, family history, technology, AI tools, ChatGPT, FamilySearch, full-text search, probate records, responsible AI use, Google, Apple, voice assistants, Canadian records, Irish names, OCR technology, AI accuracy, hallucinations in AI, AI ethics, NotebookLM, hands-free research, mobile genealogy, AI-powered transcription, historical records, Data Gemma, NotebookLM, Visual Intelligence

In this special edition of the Family History AI Show, co-hosts Mark Thompson and Steve Little do a deep dive into OpenAI's latest release, code-named "Project Strawberry."They explain the new ChatGPT-o1 models, discuss their reasoning capabilities and most importantly, their potential impacts on genealogical research. They also offer practical advice on when and how to use these new tools effectively.Don't miss this week's Tip of the Week: How to create the new o1 models' reasoning capabilities for free using chain-of-thought prompting.In RapidFire, they cover upcoming OpenAI developments, including potential October releases and the future "Orion" model.This episode blends in-depth analysis with practical tips, providing listeners with valuable insights on leveraging AI tools for family history research.Timestamps:In the News Special: ChatGPT o1-Preview01:57 Project Strawberry: Introduction to OpenAI's new ChatGPT-01 models09:20 What are the new ChatGPT o1 models best for?15:15 When not to use the new ChatGPT-o1 models for genealogy tasksTip of the Week19:25 Simulating ChatGPT-01 capabilities using free tools: Chain-of-thought promptingRapidFire27:25 Predictions for OpenAI's October Developer Event32:00 The future "Orion" model: What to expect from GPT-535:05 OpenAI's latest funding round and its implications for the AI industry38:20 Five Star ReviewResource LinksVictoria Genealogical Societyhttps://victoriags.orgEast Coast Genetic Genealogy Conferencehttps://ecggc.org/North Carolina Genealogical Societyhttps://www.ncgenealogy.orgOpenAIhttps://openai.comChatGPThttps://chat.openai.comChatGPT-01 Previewhttps://openai.com/index/introducing-openai-o1-preview/Perplexity AIhttps://www.perplexity.aiClaude (Anthropic)https://claude.ai/Google Geminihttps://gemini.google.comOpenAI Developer Dayhttps://openai.com/devday/OpenAI Advanced Voicehttps://help.openai.com/en/articles/8400625-voice-mode-faqSearchGPThttps://openai.com/index/searchgpt-prototype/OpenAI Nears Largest VC Fundraising Round of All Time at $6.5Bhttps://www.adweek.com/media/openai-largest-vc-fundraising-round/Tagsartificial intelligence, AI, technology, genealogy, family history, OpenAI, ChatGPT, GPT-4, AI models, AI reasoning, AI development, AI funding, AI tools, chatbots, large language models, AI research, AI news, AI updates, Project Strawberry, ChatGPT-o1, Orion, prompt engineering, chain-of-thought prompting, AI capabilities, AI limitations, AI for genealogy, genetic genealogy, AI investment, AI industry trends, AI conferences, AI features, AI analysis

In this episode of the Family History AI Show, Mark Thompson and Steve Little explore the latest AI news, views and reviews for family historians. They start with Google Gemini's new file upload capabilities and examine AI's impact on genealogy education, offering practical advice for researchers. Then, they discuss the increasing availability of saved prompts across AI platforms.Don't miss this week's Tip of The Week: Using examples to improve the reliability of the responses that you get from your AI. RapidFire announcements include the upcoming release of OpenAI's "strawberry" model and potential upgrades to digital assistants such as Alexa.This episode blends news with practical tips, providing listeners with valuable insights to harness AI's potential in uncovering family stories and improving research techniques. Timestamps:AI In the News01:37 Google Releases Gemini Gems: New features for document analysis and mobile access07:35 Genealogists go Back to School: The Impact of AI of Education13:30 Saved Prompts: Discussion on the widespread adoption of saved prompts across AI ToolsTip of the Week19:45 Building Better Prompts - Examples: Improve responses by providing examples in promptsRapidFire27:00 OpenAI's "Strawberry" Announcement: Enhanced Reasoning Capabilities32:00 Top 50 List of AI Tools Announced36:02 Amazon's Alexa Upgrade: Claude AI Coming to an Alexa Near You40:33 Wild Vision Arena Leaderboard: New benchmark for AI image analysis capabilities45:42 Perplexity Plans To Introduce Ads: AI search tool's future business modelResource LinksGoogle Geminihttps://gemini.google.comOpenAI ChatGPThttps://chat.openai.comAnthropic Claudewww.claude.aiPerplexity AIhttps://www.perplexity.aiGoogle Gemini "Gems"https://blog.google/products/gemini/google-gemini-update-august-2024/Anthropic "Projects"https://www.anthropic.com/news/projectsOpenAIhttps://openai.comCharacter AIhttps://character.ai/Suno AIhttps://www.suno.aiAmazon Alexahttps://www.amazon.com/alexa-help-resources/b?ie=UTF8&node=21576560011Wild Vision Arena Leaderboardhttps://huggingface.co/spaces/WildVision/vision-arenaOpenAI "Strawberry" modelhttps://www.wired.com/story/openai-o1-strawberry-problem-reasoning/Andresen Horowitz Top 100 Listhttps://a16z.com/100-gen-ai-apps/ChatGPT Advanced Voicehttps://help.openai.com/en/articles/9617425-advanced-voice-mode-faqApple iPhonehttps://www.apple.com/iphoneApple Intelligencehttps://www.apple.com/ca/apple-intelligence/Google Pixel phoneshttps://store.google.com/category/phonesMicrosoft Copilothttps://www.microsoft.com/en-us/microsoft-365/copilotOpenAI Search GPThttps://openai.com/index/searchgpt-prototype/Tags artificial intelligence, AI, technology, machine learning, genealogy, family history, AI tools, chatbots, large language models, AI research, AI news, AI updates, OpenAI, Google, Anthropic, Amazon, Apple, Microsoft, ChatGPT, Claude, Gemini, Alexa, Perplexity, Character AI, AI vision, AI voice assistants, AI ethics, AI regulations, AI benchmarks, AI subscriptions, AI advertising, AI development, AI education, prompt engineering, AI leaderboards, AI investments, AI companies, AI features, AI devices, international AI access

Hosts Mark Thompson and Steve Little expertly navigate the rapidly evolving AI landscape, offering practical insights on leveraging AI for your family history research. Mark and Steve open this episode by discussing lessons that genealogists can learn from Hollywood on the importance of fact-checking. Next, they provide a comprehensive roundup of the top AI image-generation tools. Then, how Google Lens' big upgrade can greatly simplify your research. In this week's Tip of the Week, learn how AI translation can help you research in another language, and so much more. With a mix of news, analysis, and hands-on advice, this podcast equips you with the knowledge to harness AI's power in uncovering your family stories. Whether you're a tech-savvy researcher or new to AI, this show offers valuable insights.TimestampsI. AI In the News00:01:16 Hollywood AI Mistake: Lessons for genealogists on fact-checking.00:04:18 AI Image Generators: Overview of popular tools and their applications.00:24:22 Google Lens Upgrade: New features for image and text search.II. Tip of the Week00:30:13 AI Building Blocks - Translation: Exploring translation and applications in genealogy.III. RapidFire00:41:57 Microsoft Edge Tab Organizer: New AI-powered feature for efficient research.00:44:18 "The AI Scientist": Discussion of AI agents and complex problem-solving.00:49:10 Eleven Labs Reader Upgrade: Text-to-speech tool now supports 32 languages.00:53:03 OpenAI's Condé Nast Deal: Improves AI training and new ways to access publications.Resource LinksChatGPT: https://chat.openai.com/DALL-E: https://openai.com/dall-e-2MidJourney: https://www.midjourney.com/Google Lens: https://lens.google.com/Imagen: https://deepmind.google/technologies/imagen-3/Ideogram: https://ideogram.ai/Adobe Firefly: https://www.adobe.com/sensei/generative-ai/firefly.htmlEleven Labs Reader: https://elevenlabs.io/Google Translate: https://translate.google.com/Microsoft Edge (for Tab Organizer): https://www.microsoft.com/edgeTranskribus: https://readcoop.eu/transkribus/OpenAI: https://openai.com/TagsArtificial Intelligence, Genealogy, Family History, AI Tools, Image Generation, Google Lens, OCR Technology, Language Translation, AI Ethics, Research Techniques, DALL-E, Midjourney, Adobe Firefly, Google Imagen, Microsoft Edge, Tab Management, AI Agents, Text-to-Speech, Eleven Labs Reader, OpenAI Partnerships

In this episode, hosts Mark Thompson and Steve Little discuss Microsoft's new AI-enhanced search tool, Deep Search.  Then, they review Google's major list of AI announcements. In the last big story this week, Mark and Steve talk about how photography has changed in the digital age.  Don't miss this week's Tip of the Week, where Mark and Steve provide valuable insights into Building Better Prompts using the role-goal-task-format prompting style.  The rapid-fire segment covers recent developments in AI image generation, including free access to OpenAI's DALL-E and Midjourney. The hosts also examine OpenAI's safety measures and Elon Musk's controversial AI tools.  Blending expert analysis and practical advice, this podcast equips listeners to navigate the exciting world of AI in genealogical research and beyond. AI In the News:  02:57: Microsoft Bing's Deep Search: Microsoft introduces Deep Search, a new feature competing with Perplexity, offering enhanced search capabilities. 13:27: Google's AI announcements: Google unveils several AI-powered features for Android phones, including voice assistants and image analysis tools. 24:14: Have we entered the post-photography era? The hosts discuss how AI is transforming photography and its implications for genealogists and family historians.  Tip of the Week:  33:55: Building Better Prompts: Role, Goal, Task, Format: The hosts explain a more effective method for crafting prompts when working with AI, emphasizing the importance of clear goal-setting.  RapidFire:  42:35: OpenAI's DALL-E free access: DALL-E image generation tool available to free-tier users, expanding access to AI-generated imagery. 44:36: Midjourney's web platform launch: Midjourney releases a more accessible web-based platform for its image generation tool, offering a free trial. 46:01: OpenAI's safety scorecard: OpenAI releases a safety scorecard, detailing its efforts to ensure responsible AI development and usage. 50:22: Elon Musk's AI tools release: X launches new AI tools with fewer restrictions, raising ethical concerns and discussions. Resource Links Microsoft Bing Deep Search: https://www.bing.com Perplexity AI: https://www.perplexity.ai Google Gemini: https://gemini.google.com OpenAI ChatGPT: https://chat.openai.com Google Pixel phones: https://store.google.com/category/phones DALL-E: https://chat.openai.com Midjourney: https://www.midjourney.com/imagine X (formerly Twitter): https://twitter.com Grok AI: https://grok.x.ai International Association of Jewish Genealogical Societies: https://www.iajgs.org Adobe Acrobat: https://www.adobe.com/acrobat.html Zoom: https://zoom.us  Tags: Artificial Intelligence, Genealogy, Family History, Technology, Digital Photography, Search Engines, Voice Assistants, Image Generation, Prompt Engineering, AI Ethics, Mobile Computing, Research Methods, Microsoft Bing, Google Gemini, OpenAI, DALL-E, Midjourney, Elon Musk, Deep Search, Screen Awareness 

Join co-hosts Mark Thompson and Steve Little to explore the latest developments in AI and Family History. This week, they discuss Ancestry's innovative new tool for summarizing key US records. They also review Ancestry's new AI chatbot that greatly simplifies finding the best support documents. Next, they gawk at Google's impressive Gemini 1.5 Pro update. Then, they wrap up the week's top news stories by reviewing the growing importance of small language models and how they promise faster and more secure AI tools for genealogists.This week's Tip of the Week provides a practical guide for genealogists on using AI to Extract key information from large documents. In RapidFire, they cover OpenAI's groundbreaking real-time voice chat, recent AI regulation developments, Google's monopoly ruling, and the controversy surrounding Google's Olympics ad. With expert insights and engaging discussions, this podcast is essential listening for genealogists looking to harness the power of AI in their family history research.Please let us know how we're doing by leaving us a review—your feedback helps us shape the future of the show!Timestamps:AI In the News: 00:00:00: Ancestry's new AI features: Ancestry introduces two AI tools to enhance user experience in record summarization and learning how to use Ancestry.00:11:29: Google's Gemini 1.5 Pro update: Google's latest AI model shows significant improvement, rising to the top of the chatbot rankings.00:15:20: Small Language Models: The growing importance of small language models in providing faster, more private AI solutions.Tip of the Week: 00:20:44: AI Building Block Series - Extraction: How to effectively use AI to extract valuable information from genealogical documents and texts.RapidFire: 00:31:20: OpenAI's voice chat feature: OpenAI's new real-time voice chat capability promises to revolutionize AI interactions.00:35:31: AI regulation developments: Recent regulatory actions in the EU and California aim to address AI risks and benefits.00:39:42: Google monopoly ruling: Google's designation as a monopoly in search could lead to significant changes in the tech landscape.00:42:18: Google's Olympics ad controversy: Google's AI-assisted letter writing ad sparks debate on appropriate AI use in personal tasks.Resource Links:Ask Ancestry AI: https://support.ancestry.com/s/article/Ancestry-AI-AssistantGoogle Gemini 1.5 Pro: https://gemini.google.com/updatesLLMSYS Chatbot leaderboard: https://chat.lmsys.org/?leaderboardOpenAI's advanced voice chat feature: https://help.openai.com/en/articles/9617425-advanced-voice-mode-faqGenetic Genealogy Tips and Tricks Facebook group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/237902130006828Genealogy and Artificial Intelligence Facebook group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/1255245945084761European Union AI Act: https://artificialintelligenceact.eu/high-level-summary/California's Safe and Secure Innovation Law for Frontier AI Models: https://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/billTextClient.xhtml?bill_id=202320240SB1047Tags: Ancestry AI Tools, DNA Research Assistant, Record Summarization, Google Gemini Update, Chatbot Rankings, Small Language Models, AI Privacy Concerns, Genealogy Tech Innovations, AI Extraction Techniques, Family History Research, AI Regulation, European Union AI Act, California AI Legislation, Google Monopoly Ruling, OpenAI Voice Chat, AI Ethics In Marketing, Genealogy Data Processing, AI Building Blocks, Tech Industry Developments, AI In Everyday Life

In this episode of the Research Like a Pro Genealogy Podcast, Nicole and Diana interview Steve Little, the National Genealogical Society Artificial Intelligence Program Director. Steve explains what Large Language Models are and their strengths, including summarization, extraction, generation, and translation. He discusses how AI can be used in genealogy to extract names, dates, and relationships from text, assist with genealogical writing and translating documents, transcribe printed and handwritten text, and transform text to different comprehension levels or modern standard English. Listeners will learn about the potential of AI in the field of genealogy, as well as its limitations. Steve emphasizes the importance of verifying AI-generated results. He also touches on the future of AI in genealogy, predicting new use cases, more competitors, and expanding context windows. This summary was generated by Google Gemini. Links The Family History AI Show with Steve Little and Mark Thompson - https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-family-history-ai-show/id1749873836 National Genealogical Society - Empowering Genealogists with Artificial Intelligence - https://www.ngsgenealogy.org/ai/ Sponsor – Newspapers.com For listeners of this podcast, Newspapers.com is offering new subscribers 20% off a Publisher Extra subscription so you can start exploring today. Just use the code “FamilyLocket” at checkout.  Research Like a Pro Resources Airtable Universe - Nicole's Airtable Templates - https://www.airtable.com/universe/creator/usrsBSDhwHyLNnP4O/nicole-dyer Airtable Research Logs Quick Reference - by Nicole Dyer - https://familylocket.com/product-tag/airtable/ Research Like a Pro: A Genealogist's Guide book by Diana Elder with Nicole Dyer on Amazon.com - https://amzn.to/2x0ku3d 14-Day Research Like a Pro Challenge Workbook - digital - https://familylocket.com/product/14-day-research-like-a-pro-challenge-workbook-digital-only/ and spiral bound - https://familylocket.com/product/14-day-research-like-a-pro-challenge-workbook-spiral-bound/ Research Like a Pro Webinar Series 2024 - monthly case study webinars including documentary evidence and many with DNA evidence - https://familylocket.com/product/research-like-a-pro-webinar-series-2024/ Research Like a Pro eCourse - independent study course -  https://familylocket.com/product/research-like-a-pro-e-course/ RLP Study Group - upcoming group and email notification list - https://familylocket.com/services/research-like-a-pro-study-group/ Research Like a Pro with DNA Resources Research Like a Pro with DNA: A Genealogist's Guide to Finding and Confirming Ancestors with DNA Evidence book by Diana Elder, Nicole Dyer, and Robin Wirthlin - https://amzn.to/3gn0hKx Research Like a Pro with DNA eCourse - independent study course -  https://familylocket.com/product/research-like-a-pro-with-dna-ecourse/ RLP with DNA Study Group - upcoming group and email notification list - https://familylocket.com/services/research-like-a-pro-with-dna-study-group/ Thank you Thanks for listening! We hope that you will share your thoughts about our podcast and help us out by doing the following: Write a review on iTunes or Apple Podcasts. If you leave a review, we will read it on the podcast and answer any questions that you bring up in your review. Thank you! Leave a comment in the comment or question in the comment section below. Share the episode on Twitter, Facebook, or Pinterest. Subscribe on iTunes, Stitcher, Google Podcasts, or your favorite podcast app. Sign up for our newsletter to receive notifications of new episodes - https://familylocket.com/sign-up/ Check out this list of genealogy podcasts from Feedspot: Top 20 Genealogy Podcasts - https://blog.feedspot.com/genealogy_podcasts/

Co-hosts Mark Thompson and Steve Little explore the potential benefits of Meta's open-source approach to AI. Next, they discuss MyHeritage's plans to retire an AI feature. Then, they review the AI image generation features recently added to Adobe Illustrator. In this week's Tip of the Week, they share valuable insights on crafting effective, hallucination-resistant, AI prompts using the “role, task, and format” prompting method.The RapidFire segment covers Apple's AI delays, Google's impressive math achievements, Reddit's web crawling restrictions, OpenAI's venture into AI-based search, and Meta's groundbreaking image recognition advancements.This episode offers a perfect blend of practical applications and future possibilities, making it essential listening for genealogists navigating the AI revolution. Whether you're a tech enthusiast or a family history buff, this show provides the knowledge you need to stay ahead in the rapidly changing world of AI.Timestamps:## In the News03:18 Meta's Impact on Corporate Genealogy: Discussion of Meta.ai's release and its implications07:54 MyHeritage's AI Feature Removal: Retirement of AI Record Finder tool10:11 Adobe's AI Integration: New AI features in Adobe Illustrator ## Tip of the Week19:32 Building Better Prompts: Role, Task, and Format: Explanation and examples of this prompting technique ## RapidFire Topics27:55 Apple's AI Delays: Postponement of Apple Intelligence Tools33:18 Google's AI Math Achievement: AI Performance in Math Olympics36:55 Reddit's Web Crawling Restrictions: Implications for AI training data41:22 OpenAI's SearchGPT Development: Potential impact on search engines and competitors45:30 Meta's SAM 2 Release: Advancements in image and video recognition Resource Links:Adobe Acrobat: https://acrobat.adobe.com/Adobe Illustrator: https://www.adobe.com/products/illustrator.htmlAdobe Lightroom: https://www.adobe.com/products/photoshop-lightroom.htmlAdobe Photoshop: https://www.adobe.com/products/photoshop.htmlAirtable: https://www.airtable.com/Apple Intelligence: https://www.apple.com/apple-intelligence/Canva: https://www.canva.com/ChatGPT: https://chat.openai.com/Claude (Anthropic): https://claude.ai/FamilySearch: https://www.familysearch.org/Gemini (Google): https://deepmind.google/technologies/gemini/Google AI: https://ai.google/Google Docs: https://docs.google.com/Meta AI: https://ai.meta.com/Microsoft Copilot: https://copilot.microsoft.com/MyHeritage: https://www.myheritage.com/OpenAI: https://openai.com/Perplexity: https://www.perplexity.ai/Reddit: https://www.reddit.com/SearchGPT: https://openai.com/index/searchgpt-prototype/Segment Anything Model (SAM) by Meta: https://ai.meta.com/sam2/Tags: AI in Genealogy, Meta AI, MyHeritage, Adobe Illustrator, AI Prompts, Open Source AI, Apple Intelligence, Google AI, Reddit, OpenAI, SearchGPT, SAM 2, Image Recognition, Family History, Genealogy Tools, AI Ethics, Transcription, Optical Character Recognition (OCR), Handwritten Text Recognition (HTR), Perplexity, Large Language Models, AI-Enabled Search, Artificial Intelligence, Genealogical Research, AI Record Finder, Prompting Techniques, AI Integration, Web Crawling, Data Privacy, Machine Learning, Computer Vision, AI in Adobe Products, AI Math Capabilities, Digital Genealogy, AI-Powered Tools, Genealogy Software, AI Advancements, Family Tree Research, AI for Historians, Future of Genealogy

In this week's episode, hosts Mark Thompson and Steve Little explore Meta AI 3.1's huge large language model upgrade, as well as FamilySearch's innovative, AI-based summarization feature. They then address growing concerns about AI hype. In this week's Tip of the Week, they share their approach for mastering the fine art of summarization, a crucial AI skill for genealogical research. The show rounds off with rapid-fire discussions of Google's privacy policy update, Apple's response to accusations made about their training data, and exciting developments in AI-powered education. Whether you're a tech enthusiast or a family history buff, this episode offers invaluable insights into how AI is revolutionizing genealogy and beyond.Please share this episode with a friend!Timestamps:In the News 01:01 Meta AI 3.1: A Huge Upgrade, and it's Free! 13:09 FamilySearch's New AI Summarization Feature 20:16 Addressing AI Hype Concerns Tip of the Week 24:59 AI Building Blocks: Summarization AI RapidFire 31:25 Google's Privacy Policy Update 36:57 Apple's Response to Training Data Accusations 40:02 Apple vs. Google: Platform Competition Heats Up 44:59 AI in Education: New Developments and PartnershipsResource LinksMeta AI: https://meta.aiFamilySearch: https://www.familysearch.org/en/labs/OpenAI (ChatGPT): https://openai.com/chatgptAnthropic (Claude): https://www.anthropic.comGoogle (Gemini): https://gemini.google.com/appMicrosoft: https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/aiFacebook: https://www.facebook.comApple AI: https://www.apple.com/aiYouTube: https://www.youtube.comKhan Academy: https://www.khanacademy.orgGoogle DeepMind: https://www.deepmind.comAndrej Karpathy's Eureka Labs: https://eurekalabs.ai/Tags: Artificial Intelligence, Family History, Genealogy, Large Language Models, Meta AI, Facebook AI, Family Search, AI Summarization, OCR, Land Records, AI Model Comparison, Open Source AI, AI Adoption, AI Investment, AI Winter, AI Ethics, Data Privacy, Training Data, Google Privacy Policy, YouTube Closed Captions, Apple AI, AI Research, Platform Competition, AI Ecosystems, AI in Education, Khan Academy, Microsoft AI, Andrej Karpathy, AI Tutoring, AI Learning

In this episode, hosts Mark Thompson and Steve Little dive into Perplexity's big upgrade, enhancing research capabilities for family historians. They tackle pressing ethical concerns in AI, exploring copyright issues and training data controversies that impact genealogists. The show introduces a new series on building better prompts, offering practical tips to maximize AI tools. In the rapid-fire segment, they cover open-source developments, geopolitical influences on AI, and exciting updates from industry leaders like Anthropic, OpenAI, Google, and Apple. Whether you're a tech-savvy genealogist or new to AI, this episode provides valuable insights to navigate the evolving landscape of family history research in the digital age. Tune in for expert analysis and practical advice on leveraging AI in your genealogical pursuits.Timestamps:Welcome and introduction2:12 AI In the News2:30 Story 1: Perplexity upgrade7:20 Story 2: Ethical issues in AI13:55 Tip of the Week: Build Better Prompts21:40 AI Rapid Fire21:40 Open source developments in AI24:08 Geopolitical issues affecting AI tools26:38 Anthropic's Claude and new features29:08 Changes in OpenAI board membership32:35 Google Pixel 9 AI features37:20 Delay in Apple's Siri upgrades38:53 Tout Fini!Resource Links• Perplexity: https://www.perplexity.ai/• OpenAI: https://openai.com/• Microsoft: https://www.microsoft.com/• Google: https://www.google.com/• Anthropic: https://www.anthropic.com/• Apple: https://www.apple.com/• ChatGPT: https://chat.openai.com/• Claude AI: https://www.anthropic.com/• Google Gemini: https://deepmind.google/technologies/gemini/• NVIDIA: https://www.nvidia.com/• Meta (Facebook): https://about.meta.com/• Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/