Why this matters

Artificial intelligence has crossed a threshold in genealogy. For Jewish family history, the opportunity is especially compelling: records exist in many languages, people sometimes changed their personal and community names with shifts in borders, alphabets, and languages, and families scattered across continents. AI can help researchers translate, summarize, extract, compare, and organize information faster, while the genealogist remains the final authority. The summit will also address AI’s limitations honestly and show how to catch mistakes.

What you will gain

• a practical introduction to AI for genealogy
• examples drawn from Jewish research
• hands-on research workflows
• a realistic view of what AI does well and where it fails
• real-world examples from practitioners using AI now

Program at a glance

Session 1: Introduction to AI for Genealogists — with Jewish Examples
A beginner-friendly session on what AI is, what it is not, what it does well, where it fails, and how genealogists can use it with confidence.

Session 2: Yes, You Can Research with AI
A practical session showing how AI can support retrieval, cross-referencing, and structured reporting while keeping the genealogist in charge of conclusions.

Session 3: AI in Practice — A Practitioners Panel
Real examples of how AI is being used in Jewish genealogy today, followed by audience Q&A.  Advance questions may be submitted through April 19 on the summit registration form.

Looking for full session abstracts? View full program and speaker details.

Meet the speakers

Steve Little — AI educator and IAJGS AI Virtual Summit Program Co-Chair

Mark Thompson — professional genealogist and IAJGS AI Virtual Summit Program Co-Chair

Jarrett Ross — genetic genealogist and moderator

Gil Bardige, Marlis Humphrey, Alec Ferretti — practitioners applying AI in Jewish genealogy, research, records access, and narrative reconstruction today

See speaker bios, photos, and fuller session descriptions. View full program and speaker details.

Ready to explore what AI can do for Jewish genealogy?

FAQ

Do I need technical experience?
No. The summit is designed for genealogists with no prior AI experience.

Will the sessions be recorded?
Yes. All sessions will be recorded and made available on IAJGS YouTube.

Can people outside the U.S. attend?
Yes. The event is virtual and includes real-time caption translation in 46 languages, making it more accessible to participants around the world.

Can attendees submit questions?
Yes. Advance questions may be submitted through April 19 on the summit registration form to help shape the panel discussion.