FamilySearch Computer Generated Family Trees are not Sources

 

https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/2:5:7ZXY-254?lang=en

In working with another missionary/volunteer at the BYU Library Family History Center, we ran across this source entry.

You can click on the image to enlarge it. This entry was apparently posted by FamilySearch.org. Note that there are 35 sources for this individual and this Computer Generated Tree was posted on April 23, 2024. The same day, FamilySearch.org added a copy of a parish register enty. 

The first entry, the Computer Generated Trees entry, is not a source. It has duplicate names for an existing record and an unsupported duplicate entry for the existing individual and his parents. The second entry, the parish register, is one that has the valid historical source information. The Computer Generated Trees entry come for this file in the Genealogies section of the FamilySearch.org website. 

This entry must be one of a multitude of entries being made by FamilySearch, apparently, all of them or many of them duplicates of entries for a person already in the Family Tree. Incidentally, the parish register is also a duplicate of an entry made in 2019. 

Although the specter of Computer Generated Trees is being discussed as a replacement for human intervention in the genealogical research process, this single entry seems to indicate that at least back in 2024, the process did nothing more than duplicate the work already done. I suppose that you could take the position that people are really superfluous and that computers can do a better job of building family trees given the access to the necessary information but from what is shown here, the reality would be a duplication on a massive scale. 

Are you ready to be replaced? I don't think I am either. 

The Amazing Escapades of William Francis Tanner L19W-7W9

 

https://www.familysearch.org/en/tree/person/details/L19W-7W9

Remember, as this story unfolds, that "Important research has been done on this person. Please read these alert notes before making changes." Also, he has a hefty 60 sources attached. Let's look at this amazing person. Oh, I should mention that the information in the FamilySearch Family Tree changes daily. I should also mention my research in Rhode Island has shown multiple people with the same William Tanner name during the years from 1657 to 1740. 

Here is his wondrous story. 

William Francis Tanner was suposedly born on 10 March 1657 in Chipstead, Surrey, England. There is a note that first mention of William in Rhode Island was in 1682 when he is 25 years old. However, he is married to Elizabeth Colgrove GWPP-Y78 who was apparently born in Sussex, England in 1665 and died in Sussex after the couple had five children who are born from 1680 to 1700 also in Sussex. Meanwhile, William was busy in Rhode Island by 1682. But he has to return to Sussex for children born in 1684, 1689, 1690, and 1700. 

In Rhode Island, William marries Hannah Tibbetts L6PR-VD4 in 1690 so he crosses the Atlantic just in time to have his daughter in Sussex in 1690. Quite a world traveler. He only manages to have one child with Hannah who dies in 1688. He quickly marries another woman, Mary Babcock, in 1690  and fourteen additional children born in 1691 (back to Rhode Island), two children in 1692, 1694, 1698, 1700, 1704, 1710, 1712, 1714, 1717, 1719, Deceased, and Deceased. Meanwhile, remember those five children born in England. He has multiple trips across the ocean. 

This William Tanner is currently only related to me through Sir Richard Vernon G4BD-PSP born in Derbyshire, England in 1415 and who died in 1451. 

This prolific William Tanner started out as my direct line ancestor before he was taken over by those Family Tree users who don't seem to have anything productive to do except make changes to this unfortunate family. My direct line is through another William Tanner that does not have the problem of multiple ocean crossings and three wives. 

These Revolving Door people are a significant waste of time and give the Famiily Tree a bad reputation among responsible genealogists. By the way, there do not appear to be any sources that have William Tanner with a middle name in Rhode Island. 

https://blog.myheritage.com/2025/07/significant-enhancements-to-mystories/

Quoting from the MyHeritage Blog post "Introducing MyStories: A New Service to Turn Cherished Memories into a Printed Keepsake Book"

For 21 years, MyHeritage has inspired millions of people worldwide to discover more about who they are and where they belong. While family trees, historical records, and photos are integral to family history — the stories, memories, and anecdotes that form the essence of life often go undocumented. MyStories encourages people to capture their stories and preserve them for future generations in high-quality hardcover books, ensuring their stories are cherished for posterity.For 21 years, MyHeritage has inspired millions of people worldwide to discover more about who they are and where they belong. While family trees, historical records, and photos are integral to family history — the stories, memories, and anecdotes that form the essence of life often go undocumented. MyStories encourages people to capture their stories and preserve them for future generations in high-quality hardcover books, ensuring their stories are cherished for posterity.

Now, MyHeritage has added a new level of convenience and utility. Here is the quote from the blog post entitled, "New Features on MyStories: Audio Recording and Enhanced Editing."

Many people are eager to tell their stories, but some are more comfortable talking than typing. With the addition of audio recording and transcription, you can record your story in your own voice with the click of a button. Once recorded, MyStories uses AI voice-to-text technology to automatically transcribe the story. The transcribed story appears directly in the story editor, where you can edit the text and layout, and add relevant photos. The audio recordings are saved so you can access them later on and download them, if you wish.

I am trying to write one subject a week for this entire year. I will certainly put images in the sections I have already written and in the subsequent sections.  

Apple study reveals the limitations of current AI Large Reasoning Models

 

Apple Machine Learning Research. “The Illusion of Thinking: Understanding the Strengths and Limitations of Reasoning Models via the Lens of Problem Complexity.” Accessed June 23, 2025. https://machinelearning.apple.com/research/illusion-of-thinking.

It is about time that someone or some company did studies to determine the limitation of the currently popular Large Languag Models (LLMs) and AI Large Reasoning Models (LRMs). First, short explanation about LLMs and LRM.

A Large Language Model (LLM) is a type of artificial intelligence (AI) program designed to understand, generate, and manipulate human language. LLMs are characterized by their massive scale—they are trained on enormous datasets of text and code, often comprising billions or even trillions of words. (Google Gemini search)

also: 

A Large Reasoning Model (LRM) is an advanced type of artificial intelligence model that extends the capabilities of Large Language Models (LLMs) by specifically focusing on and enhancing their ability to perform multi-step logical reasoning and problem-solving. (Google Gemini search)

Quoting from an article posted by The Guardian (Marcus, Gary. “When Billion-Dollar AIs Break down over Puzzles a Child Can Do, It’s Time to Rethink the Hype.” The Guardian, June 10, 2025, sec. Opinion. https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2025/jun/10/billion-dollar-ai-puzzle-break-down.)

Apple did this by showing that leading models such as ChatGPT, Claude and Deepseek may “look smart – but when complexity rises, they collapse”. In short, these models are very good at a kind of pattern recognition, but often fail when they encounter novelty that forces them beyond the limits of their training, despite being, as the paper notes, “explicitly designed for reasoning tasks”.

Apple used a child's game called "The Tower of Hanoi" that is relatively easy to solve to show that the reasoning ability of the major LLMs and LRMs fail when faced with challenges that can be solved by young children. 

My own experience using AI for a variety of purposes (such as the ones above) indicate that the advancements for historical/genealogical research are as limited as I expected. However, when we talk about handwriting recognition and the related progress is handling large numbers of documents will fundamentally change the way genealogists do their research.

The Digitization of the Vatican Library

https://digi.vatlib.it/

 Yes, you are reading right. There is a website with the current digitization of the Vatican Library. The images are watermarked but that does not interfere with doing research. From the website: "The project aims to digitize the entire Library' collection namuscripts : 80,000 (excluding the archival units) mostly from Middle Ages and Humanistic period. See https://digi.vatlib.it/news/#news-1 

Here is a description from Google Gemini of the digital library. 

The Vatican Library has embarked on an ambitious and ongoing project to digitize its immense and historically significant collections, making them accessible to a global audience. This initiative, primarily housed on the "DigiVatLib" platform, offers free access to a vast array of materials, transforming the experience of engaging with these irreplaceable artifacts.

The digital collections are remarkably diverse, encompassing a wide spectrum of historical and cultural heritage. Chief among them are tens of thousands of precious manuscripts, many dating back to the Middle Ages and Renaissance. These include not only theological and ecclesiastical texts but also classical Greek and Latin works, Arabic, Hebrew, and Ethiopic manuscripts, and even early copies of works by influential figures such as Aristotle, Dante, Euclid, Homer, and Virgil. The digitization process captures these intricate documents with high resolution, preserving their delicate details, illuminations, and sometimes even their original blemishes.

Beyond manuscripts, the digital library also features a substantial collection of incunabula (books printed before 1501), offering insights into the early history of printing. Furthermore, researchers and enthusiasts can explore archival materials and inventories, providing a window into the administrative and historical records of the Church. The collections are enriched by graphic materials, coins and medals, and various other printed materials that form special projects within the library's holdings.

The digitization effort serves a dual purpose: long-term preservation of these fragile and invaluable items for future generations, and opening up their contents to a much wider public. The platform utilizes International Image Interoperability Framework (IIIF) technology, enhancing accessibility and enabling scholars to easily compare and utilize these resources alongside those from other major institutions. While the project is ongoing and a significant portion of the vast physical collections is yet to be digitized, the Vatican Library's digital endeavors represent a monumental step in democratizing access to some of the world's most treasured intellectual and artistic heritage.

Major update to FamilySearch England Jurisdictions 1851 Map

https://www.familysearch.org/en/labs/

 

The England Jurisdictions Map of 1851 has been a long-time FamilySearch.org feature. It has disappeared for times in the past and recently has had its own location. The URL for the map is unique: https://www.familysearch.org/en/mapp/  Yes, the URL has two "ps" in map. This FamilySearch.org website is relatively obscure and I find very few people who are otherwise involved in English genealogy know about the map or its features. Now, the map is even more detailed and useful likely using some AI features. One of most useful features is the beginning date of parish registers and bishop's transcripts. 

The best way to become familiar with the map and its features is through clicking around and seeing all the new features. Here is a brief description of the map from December 13, 2024 before the new AI additions. 

The England Jurisdictions, 1851 map is a powerful, internet-based geographic information system (GIS). It shows parish maps of the 40 counties in England. This mapping system simplifies English research. It consolidates data from many finding aids into a single searchable repository. Access the information with the click of a mouse in a parish boundary. See https://www.familysearch.org/en/help/helpcenter/article/does-familysearch-support-the-england-jurisdictions-1851-map

I need to say something about the state of current England jurisdictions. They are complicated, daunting, difficult to understand, only vaguely described and confusing to say the least. Now, back to the 1851 map. Why 1851?  The FamilySearch England Jurisdictions 1851 is based on the British Ordnance Survey map of 1851. See Ordnance Survey from the National Archives (UK). These maps show almost every building, farm, and everything else about England. The 1851 map is a good example. 

What about jurisdictions? As confusing as English jurisdictions are, anyone wanting to know how to do English genealogical research needs to know about, at least, the basics. The FamilySearch.org England Jurisdictions 1851 map now goes well beyond the basics For example, here is a list of layer of the upgraded map:

You can turn of and on the various subdivisions of the overall jurisdictions of counties. Finding genealogical records depends on knowing this jurisdictional approach to England (also Scotland, Northern Ireland, Ireland, Wales and all the other countries and subdivisions of the British Islands plus Ireland. 

The map has always been useful to see the parishes that existed in 1851, but now the list includes all the possible jurisdictions. 

Take some time. Learn about the map and ask a lot of questions. Remember one thing, boundaries and jurisdictions change over time. The current maps of England will be considerably different than those in 1851.   

FamilySearch Catalog marks Full-Text search collections

 The FamilySearch.org Catalog

You might or might not have noticed sone new icons in the FamilySearch.org Catalog. Here is a closer screenshot view.

Here is an even closer view.

The new document icon is a link to the FamilySearch.org/labs Full-text search for that particular collection. Here is a screenshot of the Full-text search file. 

Now if I search for my own surname (a lot of my ancestors and relatives lived in Apache County) I get the following new record list. 

This is my great great grandfather's probate file. All these probate files are new additions to the both his sources and memories. This record has probably not been looked at previously since it was created. 

I am guessing that these extra icons are going to get a lot of attention in the next few weeks and months.