Artificial Intelligence Compared

 

I recently wrote a couple of articles about ChatGPT (https://chat.openai.com/) I had some serious issues with the accuracy and consistency of what was produced from a relatively simple search question. Now, I also have access to Google's Bard. So, I decided to see how the two sources matched up with the same question. 

To start, here is what I got from Bard in answer to this request. 

Tell me about genealogical cluster research.

Cluster genealogy is a research technique employed by genealogists to learn more about an ancestor by examining records left by the ancestor's cluster. A person's cluster consists of the extended family, friends, neighbors, and other associates such as business partners. Researching the lives of an ancestor's cluster leads to a more complete and more accurate picture of the ancestor's life.

To meet the Genealogical Proof Standard, a genealogist must "conduct reasonably exhaustive research involving all information that is or may be pertinent to the identity, relationship, event, or situation in question." (Emphasis added.) It follows that a reasonably exhaustive research will often include a search of records created by persons in the target ancestor's cluster. To develop context for an ancestor's life. The facts of an ancestor's life are often meaningful only in the context of his cluster.

There are many ways to do cluster genealogy research. Some common methods include:

• Studying census records to identify the people who lived near your ancestor.
• Searching for land records to see who owned property near your ancestor.
• Looking for obituaries and death records to learn about the people who died near your ancestor.
• Searching for newspaper articles to learn about the events that affected the people who lived near your ancestor.
• Studying church records to identify the people who were members of the same church as your ancestor.
• Examining business records to see who worked with your ancestor.

Cluster genealogy research can be a very effective way to learn more about your ancestors. By examining the records left by the people who lived in your ancestor's cluster, you can gain a deeper understanding of your ancestor's life and the world in which they lived.

Sources - Learn more

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cluster_genealogy

Now, I don't need an advanced ai program to copy material from Wikipedia. The response is accurate and, I must say, would give a good introduction to the subject. So let's go with ChatGPT and the same request. 

Genealogical cluster research is a type of genealogical research that involves studying groups of individuals who are linked together through shared family connections. Rather than focusing on just one individual or family line, genealogical cluster research looks at multiple families within a specific geographic or cultural context, such as a town, village, or ethnic group.

The goal of genealogical cluster research is to uncover patterns of migration, social relationships, and other connections between families that can help shed light on broader historical or sociological trends. This type of research often involves examining historical records such as census records, church records, and other types of public documents to trace family relationships and identify common ancestors.

One important aspect of genealogical cluster research is the use of DNA testing to confirm or refute family relationships. This can be especially useful in cases where written records are incomplete or have been lost over time. DNA testing can also help researchers identify shared genetic markers among different family lines, which can provide clues about migration patterns and other historical events.

Overall, genealogical cluster research is a valuable tool for historians, genealogists, and other researchers who are interested in understanding the complex social and historical connections between different families and communities. 

Not as much information, no citation to Wikipedia, but essentially the same information without the detail from Bard. But what about Wikipedia? Here is the link to the Wikipedia article. 

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cluster_genealogy

This has five sources, all of which are useful. I t also has a number of links to other sources of information. In short, the Wikipedia article is definitely more useful than either of the summaries given by the ai programs. The programs would both have done a better job if they had just answered by giving me a list of sources to look at.