EP28: AI-Based Transcriptions Transform Genealogy, FamilySearch Interview with David Ouimette, Grok 4's Anticipated Release, Apple Changes Its AI Strategy

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