Branches & Bytes:
Exploring AI in Genealogy with Steve Little and Mark Thompson
April 18, 2026
9:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.
Artificial intelligence tools like ChatGPT are transforming genealogy, but where do you start?
Join Mark Thompson and Steve Little, co-hosts of the Family History AI Show podcast, for an engaging seminar that cuts through the confusion and shows you how to use AI tools to become a better researcher and storyteller.
No technical background required. Just bring your curiosity and leave with confidence!
Session Include:
- Introduction to AI for Genealogists
- Turn Family Facts into Stories with AI
- Supercharge Your Genealogy Research with AI
- Unlock Hidden Details in Your Family Photos
Tickets are $40 which include a continental breakfast and lunch buffet.
Schedule of Events
8:00 a.m. Registrations opens.
Light refreshments available.
9:15 a.m. Welcome and Announcements
9:30 a.m. Introduction to AI for Genealogists
Are you curious about artificial intelligence, but not sure where to start? This session gives you an introduction to AI and how it works, showing you how these tools can make genealogy more creative, efficient, and fun. You’ll learn through examples tailored to real-world family history problems. And don’t worry, no technology background required!
10:30 a.m. Break
10:45 a.m. Turn Family Facts in Stories with AI
Discover how AI can act as your personal writing coach. You'll learn how to turn basic genealogical facts into interesting stories that people actually want to read. See how AI can help fix grammar, improve clarity, and make your writing stronger. Whether you're writing from scratch or improving existing work, you'll learn simple techniques to bring your family history to life.
11:45 a.m. - 1:15 p.m. Lunch Buffet
1:15 p.m. Supercharge Your Genealogy Research with AI
AI has opened up new research possibilities that didn't exist even a year ago. AI can help spot patterns you might have missed, handle repetitive research tasks, and suggest new directions when you hit a brick wall. Using real genealogical examples, you'll learn how to use AI as your research assistant—understanding both what these tools can do well and where human judgment remains essential.
2:15 p.m. Break
2:30 p.m. Unlock Hidden Details in Your Family Photos
Your family photos hold more information than meets the eye. This session demonstrates how AI can help you analyze historical photographs, identify details about time periods and locations, and even assist with dating unknown images. See real examples of how AI can become a research tool for visual evidence—helping you extract more genealogical value from your family's images.
3:30 p.m. Prize Drawings (Must be present to win)
3:45 p.m. Closing Remarks
Meet Our Speakers
Mark Thompson
Mark Thompson is a professional genealogist and public speaker specializing in the application of artificial intelligence to genealogy. As co-host of the Family History AI Show podcast alongside Steve Little, Mark helps genealogists bridge the gap between high technology and their family history research.
Mark serves as President of the Victoria Genealogical Society and chairs their DNA Special Interest Group. Mark is a frequent presenter on technology-centric genealogy topics including AI, Genetic Genealogy, and Family Archiving. When not exploring family histories, he enjoys nature photography in his home province of British Columbia, Canada.
Steve Little
Steve Little is the AI Program Director for the National Genealogical Society, the founder of AI Genealogy Insights, and a co-host of The Family History AI Show podcast, and he has lifelong passions for language, technology, and genealogy. Steve completed graduate-level courses in applied linguistics, specializing in natural language processing and computational linguistics, two pillars of today’s large language models of AI; his first career was spent in and around libraries (law, local, university, and state archives) building information systems. Steve traces his deep roots to one Appalachian county, where, by 1820, all 32 of his 3rd-great-grandparents had settled—many even earlier than that. In fact, 60 of his most recent ancestors were born, lived, and died there, in Ashe County, North Carolina. His passion lies in AI & genetic genealogy: with a keen interest in endogamy, pedigree collapse, deciphering multiple relationships, and an insatiable curiosity to explore beneficial uses and current limits of artificial intelligence in genealogy. Beyond genealogy, Steve wears many hats: he’s a husband and a dad, a Methodist pastor, and a Virginian. His hobbies span from bird watching and sky gazing, to chess and film. Additionally, he’s an avid reader, writer, photographer, and regex script hacker (a geeky name for sophisticated findand-replace searches).
FAQs
- Can I buy a ticket the day of the event?
No, advance registration only. Midwest Genealogy Center has limited accommodations for seating and food. Our staff will not be able to accept any registrations the day of the event. Deadline for all registrations and payments is Monday, April 13, 2026 by 5:00pm CT. - What can/can't I bring to the event?
You may bring all devices, laptops etc. Make sure your devices are fully charged as there will be limited outlets to plug them in. - Is my registration/ticket transferrable?
No. - Do I have to bring my printed ticket to the event?
We will have a list of attendees at the facility. You won't need a ticket to enter. - What is the refund policy?
If you need to cancel, please consider donating your registration fee to support the MGC Program Fund. Refunds will only be granted through March 27, 2026. - Are you able to accommodate patrons with a disability?
Yes. Our facility is wheelchair accessible, and we offer disabled parking. Please let us know if you need special seating. - Are there any special food options, or may I opt out of the lunch buffet for a reduced ticket price?
No. The menu is set and cannot be changed. The ticket price covers more than just food and is not negotiable. - Where can I contact the organizer with any other questions?
cruckman@mymcpl.org | (816)252-7228