Blaine T. Bettinger, Ph.D. JD
@blainebettinger.bsky.social
Author, Professional Genealogist specializing in DNA and artificial intelligence (AI), Ph.D. in biochemistry, and intellectual property attorney. Dad, husband, and plant dad. He/him. 🏳️🌈
What is the most novel & interesting way you've used generative AI (ChatGPT, Copilot, etc.) recently? I use it all day as a now-essential component of my two jobs (attorney and genealogy educator), but I recently used it to critique and improve my skincare routine! What fun example do you have?
April 25, 2025 at 5:32 PM
What is the most novel & interesting way you've used generative AI (ChatGPT, Copilot, etc.) recently? I use it all day as a now-essential component of my two jobs (attorney and genealogy educator), but I recently used it to critique and improve my skincare routine! What fun example do you have?
"Digital fossil" is a new generative AI term for me! I love how the researchers tracked the origin of this fossil!
April 18, 2025 at 2:54 PM
"Digital fossil" is a new generative AI term for me! I love how the researchers tracked the origin of this fossil!
Note, sigh, CA AG Rob Bonta absolutely did NOT "urge customers to delete their data from 23andMe’s website." He simply reminded us that we have the option and should consider whether or not to do so. I expect much more from Science Friday, but paranoia has taken over unfortunately...
If you’re one of roughly 15 million people who used 23andMe to unlock information from their DNA, consumer advocates have a message for you: Delete your data.
After 23andMe Bankruptcy, Customers Urged To Delete Their Data
The company has genetic data of 15 million people, which could be shared with a future buyer. Here’s how to delete it.
www.sciencefriday.com
March 31, 2025 at 8:30 PM
Note, sigh, CA AG Rob Bonta absolutely did NOT "urge customers to delete their data from 23andMe’s website." He simply reminded us that we have the option and should consider whether or not to do so. I expect much more from Science Friday, but paranoia has taken over unfortunately...
Reposted by Blaine T. Bettinger, Ph.D. JD
The future is a web of branching paths, and each choice opens up new possibilities as it closes others. This is as true for a civilization as it is for an individual. The more our collective intelligence can inform each choice, the better our chances of finding paths through to a beautiful future.
March 31, 2025 at 6:22 AM
The future is a web of branching paths, and each choice opens up new possibilities as it closes others. This is as true for a civilization as it is for an individual. The more our collective intelligence can inform each choice, the better our chances of finding paths through to a beautiful future.
This op-ed is an example of paternalism & privilege blindness that genetic genealogists see from some academic geneticists. Many cannot understand individual genetics when their work focuses on population genomics. 1000s found medically actionable information in 23andMe results... #genealogy #DNA
As a geneticist, I will not mourn 23andMe and its jumble of useless health information | Adam Rutherford
Millions paid to give away their most personal data. At least in return they found out more about their earwax, says academic and author Adam Rutherford
www.theguardian.com
March 27, 2025 at 9:14 PM
This op-ed is an example of paternalism & privilege blindness that genetic genealogists see from some academic geneticists. Many cannot understand individual genetics when their work focuses on population genomics. 1000s found medically actionable information in 23andMe results... #genealogy #DNA
This is fascinating research: "sharing meals with others is strongly predictive of greater life evaluations, increased positive affect, and decreased negative affect."
And learning that the word "companion" means "with bread" is so fascinating!
And learning that the word "companion" means "with bread" is so fascinating!
Sharing meals with others: How sharing meals supports happiness and social connections
The World Happiness Report is published by the Wellbeing Research Centre at the University of Oxford, in partnership with Gallup, the UN Sustainable Development Solutions Network and an independent ed...
worldhappiness.report
March 26, 2025 at 2:19 PM
This is fascinating research: "sharing meals with others is strongly predictive of greater life evaluations, increased positive affect, and decreased negative affect."
And learning that the word "companion" means "with bread" is so fascinating!
And learning that the word "companion" means "with bread" is so fascinating!
Reposted by Blaine T. Bettinger, Ph.D. JD
My dear friend and colleague Robert Charles Anderson passed away yesterday. Bob was the finest scholar in the field of #Genealogy I had ever known. A library of knowledge is now gone, yet preserved in his scholarship with @americanancestors.bsky.social He will be deeply missed by all who knew him.
February 18, 2025 at 3:57 PM
My dear friend and colleague Robert Charles Anderson passed away yesterday. Bob was the finest scholar in the field of #Genealogy I had ever known. A library of knowledge is now gone, yet preserved in his scholarship with @americanancestors.bsky.social He will be deeply missed by all who knew him.
Reposted by Blaine T. Bettinger, Ph.D. JD
If you have zero education, but learn how to ask AI models the right questions , in many jobs you will be able to outperform someone with an advanced degree, but who is unwilling to use Large Language Models.
Just takes a smartphone, curiosity to experiment and a mindset to learn.
Just takes a smartphone, curiosity to experiment and a mindset to learn.
February 17, 2025 at 5:59 PM
If you have zero education, but learn how to ask AI models the right questions , in many jobs you will be able to outperform someone with an advanced degree, but who is unwilling to use Large Language Models.
Just takes a smartphone, curiosity to experiment and a mindset to learn.
Just takes a smartphone, curiosity to experiment and a mindset to learn.
Haha! There are ALWAYS worse problems (such as the ultimate demise of the Universe!). That's rarely an excuse to ignore an issue!
I am no longer accepting the argument "there are bigger problems than this!" unless you are personally working to stop the ultimate Heat Death of the Universe.
February 13, 2025 at 3:18 PM
Haha! There are ALWAYS worse problems (such as the ultimate demise of the Universe!). That's rarely an excuse to ignore an issue!
Reposted by Blaine T. Bettinger, Ph.D. JD
New #DNA #geneticgenealogy #genealogy Seminar open for registration with great speakers @davevance.bsky.social @grandmasgenes.bsky.social @blainebettinger.bsky.social and Jim Brewster More info from @victoriags.org and registration www.victoriags.org/content.aspx...
February 6, 2025 at 12:59 AM
New #DNA #geneticgenealogy #genealogy Seminar open for registration with great speakers @davevance.bsky.social @grandmasgenes.bsky.social @blainebettinger.bsky.social and Jim Brewster More info from @victoriags.org and registration www.victoriags.org/content.aspx...
Looking forward to great things in 2025! Happy New Year's Eve everyone!
December 31, 2024 at 4:10 PM
Looking forward to great things in 2025! Happy New Year's Eve everyone!
Many are sharing books that heavily influenced them, and I want to join the fun! I first read Tuck Everlasting as a kid, probably around 10 or 11, and fell in love with it. Action, a love story, immortality, it has it all! #books #bookchallenge
November 26, 2024 at 4:18 PM
Many are sharing books that heavily influenced them, and I want to join the fun! I first read Tuck Everlasting as a kid, probably around 10 or 11, and fell in love with it. Action, a love story, immortality, it has it all! #books #bookchallenge
Fellow genealogists, what is your FAVORITE non-genealogy must-follow Bluesky profile?
November 14, 2024 at 1:46 PM
Fellow genealogists, what is your FAVORITE non-genealogy must-follow Bluesky profile?
Love this! Social media has been a tough place the past week(s), but knowing that I have so many friends that support me makes it all worthwhile!
November 13, 2024 at 8:44 PM
Love this! Social media has been a tough place the past week(s), but knowing that I have so many friends that support me makes it all worthwhile!
Hello world! Finally joined (11/13/2024) and looking forward to connecting with all of my friends and colleagues!
November 13, 2024 at 3:31 PM
Hello world! Finally joined (11/13/2024) and looking forward to connecting with all of my friends and colleagues!