Mark Thompson
@makingfamilyhistory.com
Genealogist, Educator, Blogger @ MakingFamilyHistory.com
AI Podcaster @ #TheFamilyHistoryAIShow
President @ Victoria Genealogical Society
Photographer @ Every Chance I Get
Geek @ Life
AI Podcaster @ #TheFamilyHistoryAIShow
President @ Victoria Genealogical Society
Photographer @ Every Chance I Get
Geek @ Life
I can't believe that I've got a chance to have a whole crew of genealogy experts research my family tree. This is going to be a blast! Thanks @wikitree.bsky.social !
🚀 Challenge 8 STARTS NOW!
www.wikitree.com/g2g/1929301
Join our Noon EDT Zoom to see collaborative genealogy magic happen with Mark Thompson's family tree.
Let's grow those connections together!
#WTChallenge #CollaborativeGenealogy @makingfamilyhistory.com
www.wikitree.com/g2g/1929301
Join our Noon EDT Zoom to see collaborative genealogy magic happen with Mark Thompson's family tree.
Let's grow those connections together!
#WTChallenge #CollaborativeGenealogy @makingfamilyhistory.com
September 12, 2025 at 6:04 AM
I can't believe that I've got a chance to have a whole crew of genealogy experts research my family tree. This is going to be a blast! Thanks @wikitree.bsky.social !
Yearning for a deep dive into Norwegian church records? Join expert genealogist, and President of Scandinavian Family Research, Torhild Shirley, for a virtual workshop on Feb 15, 10am PT. Hosted by the Victoria Genealogical Society for $21CAD (~$15US/Euro).
victoriags.org/content.aspx...
victoriags.org/content.aspx...
February 11, 2025 at 7:46 PM
Yearning for a deep dive into Norwegian church records? Join expert genealogist, and President of Scandinavian Family Research, Torhild Shirley, for a virtual workshop on Feb 15, 10am PT. Hosted by the Victoria Genealogical Society for $21CAD (~$15US/Euro).
victoriags.org/content.aspx...
victoriags.org/content.aspx...
I'm excited to offer 'Excel for Family Archivists' on Feb 22 - one of my favourite topics! If you have a hard time keeping track of the photos, documents, and heirlooms you hold for your extended family, this workshop will help you preserve them (and your sanity!).
victoriags.org/content.aspx...
victoriags.org/content.aspx...
February 6, 2025 at 6:28 PM
I'm excited to offer 'Excel for Family Archivists' on Feb 22 - one of my favourite topics! If you have a hard time keeping track of the photos, documents, and heirlooms you hold for your extended family, this workshop will help you preserve them (and your sanity!).
victoriags.org/content.aspx...
victoriags.org/content.aspx...
It's weird that a vast array of recording options is contributing to the loss of so much of what was recorded. 78s, 45s, super 8s, cassette, betamax, VHS, to name just a few, are getter harder and harder to find playback devices for. How long before they are "lost"? Digitize and share now!
Vanishing tech is one of the oddest problems in historical preservation... the 20th century saw a mass proliferation in means to record so much of existence from every day ordinary to the epic yet that evidence of events is vanishing for myriad reasons... which is why the Internet Archive matters.
And why is it important to preserve 78s? According to audio archivist George Blood, "To remember half of recorded history, it is important to preserve 78rpm discs."
Read the rest of George's essay on 78 preservation: blog.archive.org/2024/08/26/v...
🕳️ #VanishingCulture
Read the rest of George's essay on 78 preservation: blog.archive.org/2024/08/26/v...
🕳️ #VanishingCulture
December 12, 2024 at 12:37 AM
It's weird that a vast array of recording options is contributing to the loss of so much of what was recorded. 78s, 45s, super 8s, cassette, betamax, VHS, to name just a few, are getter harder and harder to find playback devices for. How long before they are "lost"? Digitize and share now!
Did Facebook just fall down, go boom?
December 11, 2024 at 7:22 PM
Did Facebook just fall down, go boom?
OpenAI made programming easier today! ChatGPT can now create, edit, and run Python scripts—perfect for quick data cleanup or analysis tasks, without the need to setup a development environment.
#FamilyHistoryNerds will love this. Coding just got more accessible for everyone. #AI #CodingForAll
#FamilyHistoryNerds will love this. Coding just got more accessible for everyone. #AI #CodingForAll
December 10, 2024 at 10:47 PM
OpenAI made programming easier today! ChatGPT can now create, edit, and run Python scripts—perfect for quick data cleanup or analysis tasks, without the need to setup a development environment.
#FamilyHistoryNerds will love this. Coding just got more accessible for everyone. #AI #CodingForAll
#FamilyHistoryNerds will love this. Coding just got more accessible for everyone. #AI #CodingForAll
OpenAI just expanded the "Canvas" feature in ChatGPT. It now works with more models *and* integrates with CustomGPTs. It’s a game-changer for anyone using AI for research or writing support! Edit directly in a Canvas window—by prompt or by keyboard. Skip the copy-paste-a-palooza!
December 10, 2024 at 10:03 PM
OpenAI just expanded the "Canvas" feature in ChatGPT. It now works with more models *and* integrates with CustomGPTs. It’s a game-changer for anyone using AI for research or writing support! Edit directly in a Canvas window—by prompt or by keyboard. Skip the copy-paste-a-palooza!
Innovative research into ways to identify the source of the training data behind an LLM's response. Very cool approach!
news.mit.edu/2024/citatio...
news.mit.edu/2024/citatio...
Citation tool offers a new approach to trustworthy AI-generated content
The ContextCite tool from MIT CSAIL can find the parts of external context that a language model used to generate a statement. Users can easily verify the model’s response, making the tool useful in f...
news.mit.edu
December 10, 2024 at 4:52 AM
Innovative research into ways to identify the source of the training data behind an LLM's response. Very cool approach!
news.mit.edu/2024/citatio...
news.mit.edu/2024/citatio...
It's super exciting to see OpenAI's long-awaited text to video generation model released to the public. I can't wait to see what stories people will be able to tell with this new tool. Please share your experiments here!
Sora is now available to ChatGPT Plus and Pro users: sora.com
Sora
Transform text and images into immersive videos. Animate stories, visualize ideas, and bring your concepts to life.
sora.com
December 9, 2024 at 9:41 PM
It's super exciting to see OpenAI's long-awaited text to video generation model released to the public. I can't wait to see what stories people will be able to tell with this new tool. Please share your experiments here!
It looks like the biggest improvements in ChatGPT o1 over o1-preview are in math and coding. Not surprisingly, these kinds of problems benefit from the reasoning inherent in this model. Challenge out to the family history community to find any use cases that can take proper advantage of o1!
December 6, 2024 at 6:24 AM
It looks like the biggest improvements in ChatGPT o1 over o1-preview are in math and coding. Not surprisingly, these kinds of problems benefit from the reasoning inherent in this model. Challenge out to the family history community to find any use cases that can take proper advantage of o1!
ChatGPT's o1-preview model is all grown up. It came out of preview today and is now called "o1" (oh one). Early testing confirms that it is faster than o1-preview and also gives better, more reasoned, responses. More important for most, it also accepts files and images as input now! Love this!
December 6, 2024 at 4:53 AM
ChatGPT's o1-preview model is all grown up. It came out of preview today and is now called "o1" (oh one). Early testing confirms that it is faster than o1-preview and also gives better, more reasoned, responses. More important for most, it also accepts files and images as input now! Love this!
OpenAI released a new subscription tier today that targets the professional/technical/researcher called "ChatGPT Pro." Pro provides advanced reasoning (think "o1" on steroids), more computing power, and unlimited prompts. It'll be interesting to see how much uptake they get at $US 200 per month.
December 6, 2024 at 4:45 AM
OpenAI released a new subscription tier today that targets the professional/technical/researcher called "ChatGPT Pro." Pro provides advanced reasoning (think "o1" on steroids), more computing power, and unlimited prompts. It'll be interesting to see how much uptake they get at $US 200 per month.
This isn’t the best genealogical reason to get more cousins to do a DNA test for you, but it is one of the most entertaining reasons I’ve heard of.
I just found out that around 20% of the neanderthal genome still exists today in living people!!
No individual person has more than 3 or 4% but we don't all have the same bits. If you add up all the bits we've found, about a fifth of the Neanderthal genome is still present on earth today.
No individual person has more than 3 or 4% but we don't all have the same bits. If you add up all the bits we've found, about a fifth of the Neanderthal genome is still present on earth today.
December 6, 2024 at 12:35 AM
This isn’t the best genealogical reason to get more cousins to do a DNA test for you, but it is one of the most entertaining reasons I’ve heard of.
Skircle is an engagement diagramming tool I just heard about from @dearmyrtle.bsky.social . Reason number 452 that I love Bluesky is that it is open, so anyone can build a cool tool that benefits the community!
Skircle shows the people I have interacted with the most over the past 22 days.
Skircle shows the people I have interacted with the most over the past 22 days.
December 5, 2024 at 6:20 AM
Skircle is an engagement diagramming tool I just heard about from @dearmyrtle.bsky.social . Reason number 452 that I love Bluesky is that it is open, so anyone can build a cool tool that benefits the community!
Skircle shows the people I have interacted with the most over the past 22 days.
Skircle shows the people I have interacted with the most over the past 22 days.
People often use AI tools for tasks that require accuracy, and are disappointed with the results. They might consider using it for tasks that benefit from direction setting. If hallucination rates are getting in your way, maybe you’re using your AI for the wrong type of task.
December 5, 2024 at 6:17 AM
People often use AI tools for tasks that require accuracy, and are disappointed with the results. They might consider using it for tasks that benefit from direction setting. If hallucination rates are getting in your way, maybe you’re using your AI for the wrong type of task.
Learn how to turn your family history facts into compelling stories! Join Prof. @aktange.bsky.social for 'Filling the Silences in Family Stories' - a virtual workshop on crafting family memoirs. See how old photos, letters & recipes can reveal hidden narratives. Dec 7, 10am PT @ VGS. Details:
Filling the Silences in Family Stories: how to move from data to narrative - Events - Victoria Genealogical Society
victoriags.org
December 4, 2024 at 5:33 PM
Learn how to turn your family history facts into compelling stories! Join Prof. @aktange.bsky.social for 'Filling the Silences in Family Stories' - a virtual workshop on crafting family memoirs. See how old photos, letters & recipes can reveal hidden narratives. Dec 7, 10am PT @ VGS. Details:
This week's episode of the Family History AI Show podcast counts down 2024's top 5 AI breakthroughs in genealogy. Did we miss any? @digitalarchivst.bsky.social and I also explore MyHeritage's viral LiveMemory tool, bringing photos to life using AI + use AI to research ancestral homelands.
The Family History AI Show
How To Podcast · 19 Episodes · Updated Weekly
podcasts.apple.com
December 4, 2024 at 5:10 PM
This week's episode of the Family History AI Show podcast counts down 2024's top 5 AI breakthroughs in genealogy. Did we miss any? @digitalarchivst.bsky.social and I also explore MyHeritage's viral LiveMemory tool, bringing photos to life using AI + use AI to research ancestral homelands.
This is the best summary of Bluesky’s features I’ve seen yet. Do you have any to add to the list we should know?
Since I've been here for a while… here are some useful features on Bluesky that you might not have discovered yet! 🧵
December 4, 2024 at 7:45 AM
This is the best summary of Bluesky’s features I’ve seen yet. Do you have any to add to the list we should know?
Tremendous news that David Vance recently accepted the position of General Manager for FamilyTreeDNA. He will be a fantastic addition to the already great team of people that bring DNA testing tools to genealogists around the world.
blog.familytreedna.com/dave-vance-n...
blog.familytreedna.com/dave-vance-n...
December 4, 2024 at 1:46 AM
Tremendous news that David Vance recently accepted the position of General Manager for FamilyTreeDNA. He will be a fantastic addition to the already great team of people that bring DNA testing tools to genealogists around the world.
blog.familytreedna.com/dave-vance-n...
blog.familytreedna.com/dave-vance-n...
I spent some quality time doing AI-enhanced research in Germany/Poland. Made some great headway on the project, and had a blast doing it!
December 3, 2024 at 5:43 AM
I spent some quality time doing AI-enhanced research in Germany/Poland. Made some great headway on the project, and had a blast doing it!
Massive murmurations are marvellous!
Teaching some bird poetry and some bird-conservation writings in my Victorian Nature Writers class tomorrow, and planning to end the discussion with this. Perhaps you, too, could use the breathtaking spectacle (and sound!) of murmurations, this evening?
youtube.com
December 3, 2024 at 5:35 AM
Massive murmurations are marvellous!
Learn how to turn your family history facts into compelling stories! Join Prof. Andrea Kaston Tange for "Filling the Silences in Family Stories" - a virtual workshop on crafting family memoirs. Dec 7, 10am PT @ the Victoria Genealogical Society. Details & registration: victoriags.org/content.aspx...
December 2, 2024 at 8:09 AM
Learn how to turn your family history facts into compelling stories! Join Prof. Andrea Kaston Tange for "Filling the Silences in Family Stories" - a virtual workshop on crafting family memoirs. Dec 7, 10am PT @ the Victoria Genealogical Society. Details & registration: victoriags.org/content.aspx...
Episode 18 of The Family History AI Show!
@digitalarchivst.bsky.social and I explore Claude's improved writing + OpenAI's GPTSearch (watch out Perplexity!).
Tip of the week: How genealogists can use AI for free!
Listen now: podcasts.apple.com/ca/podcast/t...
#FamilyHistory #AI #Genealogy #podcast
@digitalarchivst.bsky.social and I explore Claude's improved writing + OpenAI's GPTSearch (watch out Perplexity!).
Tip of the week: How genealogists can use AI for free!
Listen now: podcasts.apple.com/ca/podcast/t...
#FamilyHistory #AI #Genealogy #podcast
The Family History AI Show
How To Podcast · 18 Episodes · Updated Weekly
podcasts.apple.com
November 21, 2024 at 6:32 AM
Episode 18 of The Family History AI Show!
@digitalarchivst.bsky.social and I explore Claude's improved writing + OpenAI's GPTSearch (watch out Perplexity!).
Tip of the week: How genealogists can use AI for free!
Listen now: podcasts.apple.com/ca/podcast/t...
#FamilyHistory #AI #Genealogy #podcast
@digitalarchivst.bsky.social and I explore Claude's improved writing + OpenAI's GPTSearch (watch out Perplexity!).
Tip of the week: How genealogists can use AI for free!
Listen now: podcasts.apple.com/ca/podcast/t...
#FamilyHistory #AI #Genealogy #podcast
I love the freedom that comes from creating my own BlueSky lists. This allows me to switch between the types of feeds I want based upon my mood. This is a BlueSky superpower! More importantly, it allows me to keep news out of my feed until I I’ve got the strength for it!
am i the only one who's promary feed is "Following"? Seems like people have some better ones 👀 Any recommendations?
November 19, 2024 at 10:58 PM
I love the freedom that comes from creating my own BlueSky lists. This allows me to switch between the types of feeds I want based upon my mood. This is a BlueSky superpower! More importantly, it allows me to keep news out of my feed until I I’ve got the strength for it!
When that perfect sounding record set only contains 52 out of 10 million possible records.
When the promising record set isn't as promising as you'd hoped for. #genealogy #archives
a man in a black robe is standing in front of a window and holding a book and saying `` how disappointing . ''
ALT: a man in a black robe is standing in front of a window and holding a book and saying `` how disappointing . ''
media.tenor.com
November 19, 2024 at 9:15 PM
When that perfect sounding record set only contains 52 out of 10 million possible records.