AI Tools for Research and Organization
A four-module beginner course on using AI tools like Gemini and Claude to match records, organize data, and plan genealogical research — with GPS-aligned best practices throughout.
BeginnerWho Is This Course For?
This course is for researchers who are comfortable using FamilySearch or Ancestry and are ready to bring AI tools into their workflow. You do not need to be a technology expert. You do need to be willing to verify everything AI produces.
You should already know:
- How to search FamilySearch for Puerto Rican records
- The basics of Puerto Rican naming conventions (double surname system)
- That AI output is always a draft, never evidence
New to Puerto Rican genealogy? Start with Getting Started first. Not sure which AI tools to use? Begin with the Gemini and Claude: Quick Start for Genealogists handout.
What You Will Walk Away With
- A clear understanding of what AI tools can and cannot do in genealogical research
- Practical prompts for matching records involving common Puerto Rican names
- A workflow for turning raw transcriptions into organized, searchable data
- A method for using AI to identify research gaps and suggest next steps
- Habits that keep your research GPS-compliant when AI is involved
A Word About GPS and AI
AI cannot complete the Genealogical Proof Standard for you. It cannot evaluate source quality, assess informant reliability, or reach reasoned conclusions. What it can do is help you organize information, surface patterns, and draft text faster than working alone.
Every module in this course includes a GPS checkpoint: a reminder of where human judgment is required and AI output must be verified against original sources.
Course Modules
Module 1 — AI as a Research Assistant: What It Can and Cannot Do
Understand the capabilities and limits of AI tools in genealogy, how to set up Gemini or Claude for research, and how to treat AI output as a draft rather than evidence.
Module 2 — Record Matching: Solving Common-Name Problems
Use AI to compare two records and assess whether they belong to the same person — especially when dealing with name variations, phonetic spelling differences, and repeated names across generations.
Module 3 — Organizing Your Data with AI
Turn transcriptions, notes, and narrative text into structured tables, standardized dates, and GEDCOM-ready data using targeted AI prompts.
Module 4 — Research Planning: Breaking Through Brick Walls
Use AI to audit your research timeline, identify gaps, generate hypotheses, and build a structured research plan for ancestors who disappear from the record.
Worksheets and Downloads
| Resource | Download |
|---|---|
| Course Overview | |
| Quick Start Guide (Gemini and Claude) | |
| WS 01 — AI Prompt Builder | |
| WS 02 — Record Matching Log | |
| WS 03 — Data Extraction Template | |
| WS 04 — Research Gap Audit |
Key Resources
| Resource | What It Offers |
|---|---|
| Google Gemini | Free AI assistant; strong at summarizing and translating documents |
| Anthropic Claude | Free AI assistant; strong at structured extraction and following detailed instructions |
| FamilySearch — Puerto Rico Civil Registration, 1885–2001 | Primary source for verifying AI-assisted record matches |
| FamilySearch — Puerto Rico Catholic Church Records, 1645–2021 | Church records for pre-civil registration research |
| Zotero | Free tool for collecting, organizing, and citing research sources |
© 2026 Sylvia Vargas. Teaching Genealogists AI™. All rights reserved.
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