EP40: AI Models Leap Forward, Research Like a Pro Meets AI, FamilySearch Simple Search, Ancestry AI Stories, Anthropic vs. Uncle Sam

10 snips

Mar 24, 2026

Nicole Dyer, genealogist and part of the mother-daughter team behind Research Like a Pro and Family Locket, blends practical methodology with AI tools. She discusses using AI for transcription, locality research, and DNA workflows. Short, vivid takes on model testing, secure DNA handling, and future tools for turning audio/video into family narratives.

Ask episode

AI Snips

Chapters

Transcript

Episode notes

INSIGHT

Gemini Excelled At Images With Nano Banana 2

Gemini 3.1 notably advanced image generation and analysis; Nano Banana 2 expands free-tier image capabilities including text inside images.
Mark uses Gemini exclusively for image tasks and saw big RootsTech adoption driven by Nano Banana features.

ANECDOTE

Research Like A Pro Grew From Accreditation To Live Cohorts

Diana and Nicole turned Research Like A Pro from accreditation notes into a book and live study groups starting in 2017.
Their first study group had ~12 people, produced formatted reports with citations, and validated the method's effectiveness.

ADVICE

Run Prompts In Multiple Models Then Consolidate

Try the same prompt across multiple LLMs and consolidate outputs for the best locality research.
Diana runs prompts in several models, then feeds their results into Claude to synthesize a concise, well‑formatted summary with salient links.

Get the Snipd Podcast app to discover more snips from this episode

Get the app

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.