Ethical AI for Genealogists

The above image was created using DALL-E on CPT4o. 

Numerous regeneration was needed because text integration 

with DALL-E can be inaccurate. Minimizing words helps accuracy. 

Introduction

In November 2024, I began experimenting with AI in genealogy and blogging, writing several posts about my experiences. Just as sourcing is needed in genealogy and blogging, I believe that including AI disclosure statements is equally important.

Curious about if others use AI disclosures, I asked the question on Facebook. One response surprised me. The commenter suggested that if they saw a disclosure about AI in a blog post, they would assume the entire post was AI-generated. I respectfully disagree. To me, an AI disclosure shows transparency and builds trust between myself and my readers. It informs readers about the role AI played in the blog writing process, including writing, title creation, and photography.

As genealogists and bloggers use AI in their writing and research, I believe it's important for them to provide transparency which is a foundation of good writing, especially in genealogy, where accuracy matters.

In this post, I'll explore the role of disclosure statements in genealogical writing, why transparency matters, and how I disclose the use of AI in my blog writing.

What is the role of AI in genealogy?

Using the tools AI offers can simply and enrich your family history stories. photographs, and research. It can transcribe documents, describe photographs, write biographies, plan your research, organize information, summarize items, edit for punctuation and grammar, analyze DNA, and more. Using AI in genealogy can save time and increase your efficiency. One thing it can't do is find my brick wall ancestor's parents!

Why does transparency matter?

Transparency is important because AI is only as accurate as the information you input. Errors may be found due to misinterpretation of the prompt and biases in responses. 

Transparency builds trust between the writer and the reader. It allows one to use their own skills to analyze and interpret what they are reading whether it is research findings or historical facts.

How does one disclose AI use?

First, the writer needs to identify what AI help was used. Identify which AI tools were used and how they were used. Were they used for transcribing, writing, ideas, titles, photographs, or analyzing data? Whenever the writer uses AI tools disclose how AI was used and write a disclosure statement. 

My general disclosure statements are found at the bottom of the right sidebar on the front page of my blog. They are:

Journey to the Past blog posts uses the assistance of artificial intelligence (AI) tools. While the content reflects my ideas, writing, and research. the AI was used for grammar and style suggestions.

The headlines on this blog may be suggested by AI algorithms. I review and select the most fitting ones to capture the essence of the content.

Some of the images used on this blog were created by AI software. These visuals were designed to complement the content and enhance the reader's experience.

A clear and concise explanation of how AI is used on relevant blog posts will be stated at the end of the blog post.

Each blog post where I use AI includes a concise explanation of how I used AI in the post. A few examples include: 

Statement for editing: This blog posts used the assistance of artificial intelligence (AI) tools. While the content reflects my ideas, writing, and research. the AI was used for grammar and style suggestions.

Statement for headline: The headline on this blog post was suggested by AI algorithms. I reviewed, selected, or edited the most fitting one to capture the essence of the content.

Statement for images: The image used on this blog post was created by AI software. The visual was designed to complement the content and enhance the reader's experience.

These are just three examples of AI disclosure statements. Each writer needs to assess their own use of AI and write disclosure statements specific to them. 

Conclusion

Using AI has its benefits for genealogical writing and research, but there are ethical considerations. It is every writer's responsibility the be ethical in their writing. Transparency and disclosure enhance the integrity of your family history, whether it is used in writing blog posts, family trees, or presentations. 

Other ways to show ethical responsibility are to verify AI-generated information with traditional research methods when possible, be transparent in your use of AI tools, use the skills you have learned as a genealogist to analyze AI-generated results before sharing, and advocate for responsible AI use within the genealogy community. Just as you analyze online family trees, analyze AI generated writing.

Do you use AI in your genealogy? Please share your own thoughts and experiences about using AI in your work.

AI Disclosures

The image used on this blog post was created by AI software, DALL-E. The visual was designed to complement the content and enhance the reader's experience.

This blog post used the assistance of artificial intelligence (AI) tools at CPT4o. While the content reflects my ideas, writing, and research. the AI was used for headings, grammar, and spelling editing.