Coach Carole Online

5 Unexpected Lessons from a Genealogy Bootcamp

by Carole McCulloch:

• Central Message: AI isn’t a “magic button” for instant family stories; instead, it works best as a partner—amplifying human curiosity and organisation (a philosophy Carole calls “Intelligence Amplified”).
• Key Lessons from the AI Bootcamp:
  1. System Over Story: The real goal isn’t just finishing one ancestor story—it’s building a reusable system for telling any ancestor’s story. The bootcamp teaches a workflow you can repeat for every ancestor.
  2. Fast, but Structured: The bootcamp promises you can transform your “boxes of chaos” (scattered research) into a publishable story in only 31 days, by following a clear week-by-week structure.
  3. Preparation is Everything: The most important work happens before writing. Bootcamp participants do detailed tech setup and organization (folders, tools, self-assessment) so the writing phase is smooth and efficient.
  4. Human Expertise Rules: AI supports, but never replaces, the genealogist’s judgment—especially about facts. Strict privacy, ethics, and verification standards put the family historian in charge.
  5. Simple & Free Toolkit: Effective AI genealogy doesn’t require expensive, complex tech. The course uses free tools: ChatGPT (transcription, drafting), Perplexity (research), and Google NotebookLM (organising notes).
• Conclusion: With a disciplined, repeatable AI-powered process, you can transform family history writing from intimidating and chaotic into a manageable, satisfying, and continuous endeavour.