Discover the Magic of the AI SIG: Bringing Our History into the Future

Have you heard the buzz about artificial intelligence (AI) but aren’t sure what it means for your family tree? The AI special interest group (SIG) is a new collaborative hub where we demystify the latest technology together.

We bridge the gap between “high-tech” ideas and the practical ways they can help you find your family. We skip the technical jargon and focus on knowledge exchange—sharing how tools like Large Language Models (LLMs) [often called “smart assistants” or “chatbots”] can breathe new life into your research.

This AI SIG meeting may include discussions on:

• Hands-on Demos: See real-world showcases of how AI reads difficult handwriting (paleography) in English, Yiddish, Hebrew, or the multiple other languages of Europe and the Middle East.
• Privacy & Security: Learn the “golden rules” of AI privacy—how to use these tools safely without compromising your family’s private data or DNA results.
• Problem Solving: Participate in peer-to-peer troubleshooting to move past technical hurdles.
• Advanced Techniques: Learn about meta-prompting (the art of giving the AI a specialized “role” or “expert persona”) to get much more accurate research results.
• Enhancing Memories: Learn how to clear up blurry family photos or organize decades of notes in seconds.

Lead instructor Arthur Sissman acts as your personal “guide on the side” while our AI chatbot serves as the “sage on the stage.”

• Celebrate Successes: Show the group what worked! Your breakthroughs provide a blueprint for others to follow.
• Troubleshoot Failures: Hit a wall? Bring your “stuck” prompts and let Arthur and the Chatbot analyze the “why” to find a solution in real-time.
• Interactive Growth: Move from a passive observer to an active participant in the future of genealogy.

AI SIG lecture presentations are open and free to the public; this workshop, however, is designed for in-depth, hands-on interaction among participants and is, therefore, reserved for JGS Toronto members only.

On Zoom only

FAQ for this program:

• Who may register for this program?  Members only
• Is it being recorded?  Yes
• Who may view the recording?  Members only