AI and Genealogy

My take on this technology

Recently, I asked a writer friend her thoughts on using AI in writing, and her response surprised me. She reacted as if I had asked for her firstborn! She said no, warning me that I could get into trouble for using it, and she saw no positive applications for AI in writing.

Gemini AI Generated

I tried to share my perspective, but she wasn't receptive. AI is an assistant, not a replacement for writing skills. I’m not looking for AI to create or write a story for me. I can ask if there are gaps in the story and if anything needs to be clarified. AI often suggests a different word or phrase. I see its place as a second reader of my writing.

And as to her response, she's already been using AI for a long time, as we all have in our email correspondence or writing in Word.

AI is also helpful in brainstorming chapter titles, outlines, and more. It can be used as a search engine, but beware: Much of the information provided might not be accurate.

Here is a recent example. In 2010, I developed a dyeing technique called "ice dyeing." I was having fun dyeing fabric with snow, but I had to quit once the snow was gone. I decided to try using ice cubes because snow is basically ice crystals. After getting great results on my first pieces, I scoured the Internet to see if there was any information on the technique. I found nothing. I showed my pieces to an artist friend, who encouraged me to contact Quilting Arts Magazine. I did and ended up writing the first article in 2011 for this national publication on ice dyeing. 

Last week, an article titled "All About Ice Dyeing" was published in Dharma Trading's (a supplier of artists supplies including dyes) newsletter. According to this article, it started with snow and research for an article I had written for Quilting Arts back in 2011.

Someone posted that the information in the article was wrong, and the technique had been around since the 60s or 70s from a “History of Ice Dyeing” she read. I remember that era and tie-dyeing was the rage, but I never heard anyone use ice. I clicked on the link to the website the poster had referenced. After reading the blog post, I emailed the writer, asking her where she got her information. I was surprised to receive an answer in a few hours. She was happy I read her blog post, and she attached screenshots of her documentation. It was all from AI. I told her that if she was going to be using their information, she needed to ask AI for their sources.

So I went to Gemini, Google's AI,  and asked it about the history of ice dyeing, and it spit out what she had written. At the bottom, it listed four blog posts as sources. None of them mentioned any history of the technique.

So I asked Gemini:

“Where did you get information that this technique emerged in the 1960s and 1970s? None of those posts indicated that.”

Gemini responded:

You're absolutely right. I apologize for the oversight. It seems I conflated the emergence of ice dyeing with the broader experimentation with dyeing techniques that occurred during the 1960s and 1970s.

While the specific origins of ice dyeing are less clear-cut, it's likely that the technique evolved gradually as artists and textile enthusiasts explored new ways to create unique patterns and effects.

Would you like me to try finding more specific information about the origins of ice dyeing? I can search for historical records, interviews with early practitioners, or other relevant sources.

Me:

Yes. I believe Lynda Heines wrote the first article in a national magazine called Quilting Arts in 2011.

Gemini:

That's a great find! Lynda Heines' article in Quilting Arts in 2011 seems to be a significant milestone in popularizing the ice dyeing technique.

It's interesting to note that while the technique itself might have been explored before, her article likely played a crucial role in introducing it to a wider audience and inspiring many to try it out.

Would you like to know more about Lynda Heines or her work on ice dyeing?

Me:

Yes.

Gemini returned with a list of information about me, but much of it was incorrect.

As you can see, I fed it that information about the Quilting Arts article, which changed its answer. Whatever you feed it, it will give back to you.

 So, at this point, can you really believe or trust it?

As far as using it for genealogy,  here are a couple examples of my searches.

I asked AI for information on the Igleheart Cooking School in Evansville, Indiana, in 1927. I found information in the local paper but wanted to see if AI could find anything else. It couldn't find specific details on Evansville's school. However, it gave me general info about cooking schools during that time. When I informed AI that the Igleheart Brothers Baking Company in Evansville, Indiana, milled various products, including Swans Down cake flour, it gave me a history of the Swans Down Cooking Schools around the country. I ended up contacting the parent company, which provided some information.

That inquiry was at least six months ago, and AI has improved. I asked Gemini this week about the cooking school to see what results I might receive now. It had no information but referred me to various sites to contact, including the Vanderburgh County Historical Society with its website and phone number. It even asked me if I'd like it to generate a letter to send them! That was an improvement over what it told me before.

Another inquiry was about the Minna, the ship that brought some of my ancestors to America in the 1850s. I wanted to know where it was built in Germany. I received several conflicting answers from several different AIs. One told me to consult reliable historical resources.

This week, I asked Gemini the same question, giving the info on arrival date, place, and departure location. Instead of guessing, it referred me for additional information on the ship to several German sites I had never researched. That was helpful. This showed me how AIs have improved in just six months.

AI can help with our research, and it is getting better. However, if I am going to use it for research, I also need sources of the information.

As I mentioned, my favorite use of AI is to help me with my writing. I'll share my favorite for that in a future post.