The (US) Board for Certification of Genealogists (BCG) has issued an Interpretation Regarding the Use of AI. It reads, in part
“No material in an initial application may have been reviewed, critiqued, or proofread by another individual.” These restrictions apply to the use of AI, with these exceptions:
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- Applicants may use AI-powered search tools such as search engines, genealogy-company hints, and online trees.
- Applicants may use spelling and grammar checking tools.
- Applicants may translate documents—except the BCG-supplied document—with the help of translation tools.”
Posting on Facebook, Blaine Bettinger comments:
Although there are some issues, I think it is a good start. I don’t expect this policy to last long given how professional genealogists are already integrating AI into their workflow, but it is a very good interim policy.
Blaine missed his calling as a diplomat!
I’d call it a tiny step. It demonstrates how conservative BCG is, avoiding the fact that AI is already changing how we do many things. Professional genealogy is no exception. The test is the quality of the final product of the individual being assessed— the tools used are irrelevant.
I totally agree with you John.
I too agree totally with John. Perhaps that is because as a former research librarian, and now an aged retired one, I may seem a fuddy duddy. However, the ‘Cite your sources’ mantra which has always served researchers and archivists well, is undone by AI. It has no known sources other than itself self-reverent self and Social Media.
Not trusted here.
Old fuddy duddy here.
A very definite NO WAY to AI.
I have seen & heard too many instances where the info is just wrong, and the person above is right. AI does not cite sources (or if, then not necessarily credible sources..
It has not been tested properly yet, it needs to be corrected/fine tuned… WE are not ready for it.
AI, as any other tech, is created by programmers, and any biases, misconceptions, assumptions, etc. that they have is always reflected in the final product.
It was launched too early because big tech wants even bigger profits.
For me – thank you but I prefer to do the search/research myself.