iiinova — where your digital self keeps evolving

Mark Thompson @makingfamilyhistory.com · 12/09/2025

I can't believe that I've got a chance to have a whole crew of genealogy experts research my family tree. This is going to be a blast! Thanks @wikitree.bsky.social !

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Mark Thompson @makingfamilyhistory.com · 11/02/2025

Yearning for a deep dive into Norwegian church records? Join expert genealogist, and President of Scandinavian Family Research, Torhild Shirley, for a virtual workshop on Feb 15, 10am PT. Hosted by the Victoria Genealogical Society for $21CAD (~$15US/Euro). victoriags.org/content.aspx...

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Mark Thompson @makingfamilyhistory.com · 06/02/2025

I'm excited to offer 'Excel for Family Archivists' on Feb 22 - one of my favourite topics! If you have a hard time keeping track of the photos, documents, and heirlooms you hold for your extended family, this workshop will help you preserve them (and your sanity!). victoriags.org/content.aspx...

Woman using Excel to keep track of her photos

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Mark Thompson @makingfamilyhistory.com · 12/12/2024

It's weird that a vast array of recording options is contributing to the loss of so much of what was recorded. 78s, 45s, super 8s, cassette, betamax, VHS, to name just a few, are getter harder and harder to find playback devices for. How long before they are "lost"? Digitize and share now!

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Mark Thompson @makingfamilyhistory.com · 11/12/2024

Did Facebook just fall down, go boom?

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Mark Thompson @makingfamilyhistory.com · 10/12/2024

OpenAI made programming easier today! ChatGPT can now create, edit, and run Python scripts—perfect for quick data cleanup or analysis tasks, without the need to setup a development environment. #FamilyHistoryNerds will love this. Coding just got more accessible for everyone. #AI #CodingForAll

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Mark Thompson @makingfamilyhistory.com · 10/12/2024

OpenAI just expanded the "Canvas" feature in ChatGPT. It now works with more models *and* integrates with CustomGPTs. It’s a game-changer for anyone using AI for research or writing support! Edit directly in a Canvas window—by prompt or by keyboard. Skip the copy-paste-a-palooza!

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Mark Thompson @makingfamilyhistory.com · 09/12/2024

It's super exciting to see OpenAI's long-awaited text to video generation model released to the public. I can't wait to see what stories people will be able to tell with this new tool. Please share your experiments here!

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Mark Thompson @makingfamilyhistory.com · 06/12/2024

It looks like the biggest improvements in ChatGPT o1 over o1-preview are in math and coding. Not surprisingly, these kinds of problems benefit from the reasoning inherent in this model. Challenge out to the family history community to find any use cases that can take proper advantage of o1!

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Mark Thompson @makingfamilyhistory.com · 06/12/2024

ChatGPT's o1-preview model is all grown up. It came out of preview today and is now called "o1" (oh one). Early testing confirms that it is faster than o1-preview and also gives better, more reasoned, responses. More important for most, it also accepts files and images as input now! Love this!

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Mark Thompson @makingfamilyhistory.com · 06/12/2024

OpenAI released a new subscription tier today that targets the professional/technical/researcher called "ChatGPT Pro." Pro provides advanced reasoning (think "o1" on steroids), more computing power, and unlimited prompts. It'll be interesting to see how much uptake they get at $US 200 per month.

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Mark Thompson @makingfamilyhistory.com · 06/12/2024

This isn’t the best genealogical reason to get more cousins to do a DNA test for you, but it is one of the most entertaining reasons I’ve heard of.

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Mark Thompson @makingfamilyhistory.com · 05/12/2024

Skircle is an engagement diagramming tool I just heard about from @dearmyrtle.bsky.social . Reason number 452 that I love Bluesky is that it is open, so anyone can build a cool tool that benefits the community! Skircle shows the people I have interacted with the most over the past 22 days.

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Mark Thompson @makingfamilyhistory.com · 05/12/2024

People often use AI tools for tasks that require accuracy, and are disappointed with the results. They might consider using it for tasks that benefit from direction setting. If hallucination rates are getting in your way, maybe you’re using your AI for the wrong type of task.

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Mark Thompson @makingfamilyhistory.com · 04/12/2024

Learn how to turn your family history facts into compelling stories! Join Prof. @aktange.bsky.social for 'Filling the Silences in Family Stories' - a virtual workshop on crafting family memoirs. See how old photos, letters & recipes can reveal hidden narratives. Dec 7, 10am PT @ VGS. Details:

victoriags.org

Filling the Silences in Family Stories: how to move from data to narrative - Events - Victoria Genealogical Society

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Mark Thompson @makingfamilyhistory.com · 04/12/2024

This week's episode of the Family History AI Show podcast counts down 2024's top 5 AI breakthroughs in genealogy. Did we miss any? @digitalarchivst.bsky.social and I also explore MyHeritage's viral LiveMemory tool, bringing photos to life using AI + use AI to research ancestral homelands.

podcasts.apple.com

The Family History AI Show

How To Podcast · 19 Episodes · Updated Weekly

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Mark Thompson @makingfamilyhistory.com · 04/12/2024

This is the best summary of Bluesky’s features I’ve seen yet. Do you have any to add to the list we should know?

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Mark Thompson @makingfamilyhistory.com · 04/12/2024

Tremendous news that David Vance recently accepted the position of General Manager for FamilyTreeDNA. He will be a fantastic addition to the already great team of people that bring DNA testing tools to genealogists around the world. blog.familytreedna.com/dave-vance-n...

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Mark Thompson @makingfamilyhistory.com · 03/12/2024

I spent some quality time doing AI-enhanced research in Germany/Poland. Made some great headway on the project, and had a blast doing it!

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Mark Thompson @makingfamilyhistory.com · 03/12/2024

Massive murmurations are marvellous!

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Mark Thompson @makingfamilyhistory.com · 02/12/2024

Learn how to turn your family history facts into compelling stories! Join Prof. Andrea Kaston Tange for "Filling the Silences in Family Stories" - a virtual workshop on crafting family memoirs. Dec 7, 10am PT @ the Victoria Genealogical Society. Details & registration: victoriags.org/content.aspx...

Photo of the workshop presenter, Andrea Kaston Tange

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Mark Thompson @makingfamilyhistory.com · 21/11/2024

Episode 18 of The Family History AI Show! @digitalarchivst.bsky.social and I explore Claude's improved writing + OpenAI's GPTSearch (watch out Perplexity!). Tip of the week: How genealogists can use AI for free! Listen now: podcasts.apple.com/ca/podcast/t... #FamilyHistory #AI #Genealogy #podcast

podcasts.apple.com

The Family History AI Show

How To Podcast · 18 Episodes · Updated Weekly

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Mark Thompson @makingfamilyhistory.com · 19/11/2024

I love the freedom that comes from creating my own BlueSky lists. This allows me to switch between the types of feeds I want based upon my mood. This is a BlueSky superpower! More importantly, it allows me to keep news out of my feed until I I’ve got the strength for it!

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Mark Thompson @makingfamilyhistory.com · 19/11/2024

When that perfect sounding record set only contains 52 out of 10 million possible records.

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Mark Thompson @makingfamilyhistory.com · 18/11/2024

Some of my best ideas popped into my head while I was sitting in an airport.

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Mark Thompson @makingfamilyhistory.com · 17/11/2024

Time to get back to podcast editing! Enough procrastinating!

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Mark Thompson @makingfamilyhistory.com · 17/11/2024

Yesterday, I woke up to about 17.5 M users. At this rate, will break 19 M today and 20 M tomorrow. Make sure to say a prayer of thanks to the BlueSky infrastructure team. They won't be getting much time with family and friends before the end of the year. #bluesky

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Mark Thompson @makingfamilyhistory.com · 17/11/2024

The bad news keeps coming from 23andMe. 200 layoffs (about 40% of staff). They also shut down their cancer research. And "exploring options" for what appears to be a garage sale of remaining assets. I hope someone reputable picks up their DTC DNA assets. ca.finance.yahoo.com/news/entire-...

ca.finance.yahoo.com

After its entire board resigned overnight, 23andMe will cut over 200 employees and its cancer research in an urgent bid to nurse the company back to health

The DNA-testing firm said in a Tuesday SEC filing, “there is substantial doubt about the company’s ability to continue.”

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Mark Thompson @makingfamilyhistory.com · 16/11/2024

Not exactly the positive impact on society I was hoping AI would have. But, there’s no doubt that “AI slop” will be one of the things 2024 is remembered for.

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Mark Thompson @makingfamilyhistory.com · 16/11/2024

Genealogists aren’t the only people worried about fake images tainting research.

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Mark Thompson @makingfamilyhistory.com · 16/11/2024

Where is your AI Goldilocks zone? List the tasks you frequently do and excel at, then compare them to those tedious, time-draining chores you have to slog through. The sweet spot between them? That's your AI Goldilocks zone - where AI frees you to focus on what you do best.

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Mark Thompson @makingfamilyhistory.com · 16/11/2024

Off to the gym or take a peek at my DNA match list? Decisions, decisions.

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Mark Thompson @makingfamilyhistory.com · 16/11/2024

I couldn’t agree more! This is one of the reasons I’m enjoying BlueSky so much. Honest engagement, less crap.

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Mark Thompson @makingfamilyhistory.com · 15/11/2024

I love how some people are wired to innovate, but there is so much unrealized benefit to be gained from the AI tools that we’ve already got! What was the last thing you did with an AI tool that made you go “holy smoke, I can’t believe it can do ‘this’”?

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Mark Thompson @makingfamilyhistory.com · 15/11/2024

Great to see another Canadian genealogist on BlueSky!

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Mark Thompson @makingfamilyhistory.com · 15/11/2024

I guess it wasn't (just) the great genealogy migration that caused BlueSky to wobble today. www.theverge.com/2024/11/14/2...

theverge.com

Bluesky apparently acted up today because of a cut fiber cable

The outage seemed to last for about half an hour.

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Mark Thompson @makingfamilyhistory.com · 15/11/2024

This is a "must read" for BlueSky newbies! Here's a summary, but check the link for details! Complete your profile, use starter packs, join custom feeds, engage actively moderate wisely Less algorithm, more authentic engagement. blogs.york.ac.uk/library/2024...

blogs.york.ac.uk

The Researcher’s Guide to Bluesky – The Library, Learning, Archives and Wellbeing Blog

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Reposted by Mark Thompson

Daniel Loftus @danielloftus.projectinfant.ie · 14/11/2024

That I can do! So, today’s tip is about block lists. In my video, I talked about the benefit of lists and how they can be used to curate an experience to your liking. But they also have a secondary purpose… 🧵 (1/4)

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Mark Thompson @makingfamilyhistory.com · 14/11/2024

@danielloftus.bsky.social , I saw you mention that BlueSky supports block lists on one of @digitalarchivst.bsky.social 's posts. Please, tell me (and us) more!

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Mark Thompson @makingfamilyhistory.com · 14/11/2024

I keep meaning the learn the "other" tool that is better, but Excel keeps working for me.

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Mark Thompson @makingfamilyhistory.com · 13/11/2024

I dug into the data to find out how "big" BluSky is. commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Bl... Looking at the chart's citations (trust, but verify!) I was pleasantly surprised to see it was sourced from a (likely?) reliable source, the BlueSky API. Other BluSky stats at: bsky.jazco.dev/stats

commons.wikimedia.org

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Mark Thompson @makingfamilyhistory.com · 13/11/2024

I've come over to the BlueSky to check it out. Interested in connecting with family history friends and artificial intelligencia. #genealogy #familyhistory #ai #artificialintelligence #geneticgenealogy

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