I just tried ChatGPT deep research to dive into my family history — here’s what happened
With tech giants like OpenAI, Google, and xAI making deep research more easily accessible to casual users, understanding how to best utilize this feature can be helpful.
Deep research is a meticulous process that delves beyond surface-level information, aiming to uncover comprehensive insights across numerous websites and available data, then delivering results in mere minutes.
To harness the full potential of deep research regardless of what chatbot you choose, it’s essential to employ effective strategies and craft precise prompts that guide the research process.
Besides academic studies and professional projects, I wanted to see how the average user might make the most of deep research. Because it provides a well-rounded, deep dive into complex subjects that a typical web search can’t provide, I decided to test it with my family genealogy.
Here’s what happened when I asked ChatGPT deep research to explore my ancestry and how to try it for yourself.
How ChatGPT’s deep research feature works
Exploring one’s family history has traditionally been a labor-intensive endeavor, requiring sifting through archives, visiting local records offices, and conducting numerous interviews with family members.
While including secure documents might have helped, I got a lot of answers without uploading anything.
The advent of the internet has streamlined this process, and now with OpenAI’s introduction of the deep research feature in ChatGPT, genealogical research is poised to become even more accessible and efficient.
I have always pondered taking an ancestry test, but I’ve never done one. Besides being kind of expensive, the privacy concerns have kept me away. But using ChatGPT to delve into various online databases, historical records, and other resources to gather pertinent information about family histories made it seem like the answer to my desire to know more.
Still, it’s essential to approach this tool with a critical eye, as AI-generated content can sometimes include inaccuracies or “hallucinations,” and I did not want to include any private information such as address, birth certificates, or other confidential information.
Rest assured that none of that was needed in my experiment. While including secure documents might have helped, I got a lot of answers without uploading anything.
Crafting effective prompts
Before engaging ChatGPT’s deep research, it’s beneficial to compile all known information about your family history. This includes names, dates, locations, and any existing documents or anecdotes.
Again, there’s no need to include addresses but if you feel comfortable, you could add birthdates, cities, and regions. The more detailed your initial data, the more targeted and effective the AI’s research will be.
The success of AI-assisted research heavily depends on how you frame your queries. Here are some strategies to maximize the utility of ChatGPT’s deep research:
- Specificity is key: Clearly state what you’re seeking. Instead of asking, “Tell me about the Smith family,” specify, “Provide information on the Smith family from Lancaster, Pennsylvania, between 1800 and 1900.”
- Incorporate known details: Use the information you already have to guide the AI. For example, “Investigate the ancestry of John Smith, born in Lancaster, Pennsylvania, in 1850, focusing on his parents and siblings.”
- Set clear objectives: Define what you aim to achieve with the research. For instance, “Identify potential immigration records for the Smith family arriving in Pennsylvania in the early 19th century.”
Leveraging deep research for family history
Once you’ve prepared your prompts, here’s how to utilize the deep research feature effectively:
- Inputting your query: Enter your well-crafted prompt similar to the examples above into ChatGPT, providing any supplementary materials such as scanned documents or photographs that might aid the research. Again, this is not entirely necessary.
- Reviewing the AI’s process: Deep research offers a detailed summary of its research process, including the sources consulted. Although it takes less than 15 minutes, usually, I enjoy the transparency of watching the AI work. It helps to verify the credibility of the information and understand the AI’s methodology.
- Cross-referencing information: While Deep Research can provide extensive data, it’s crucial to cross-verify the findings with primary sources or reputable genealogical databases to ensure accuracy.
Potential pitfalls
There are a few things to consider when using AI to deep research into your family history.
While AI offers powerful tools for genealogical research, it’s important to be aware of its limitations, for instance, accuracy concerns. AI-generated content can sometimes include fabricated information. Always cross-reference AI findings with primary sources or established databases.
Be mindful of inputting personal family information. It’s better to get more information from the AI and sift through it yourself. While this can increase the amount of research you have to do personally, it ensures that sensitive information is handled appropriately.
AI can process and analyze vast amounts of data quickly, but it lacks the nuanced understanding that human researchers bring. I suggest using AI as a supplementary tool rather than a sole resource.
Final thoughts
I really enjoyed knowing that my ancestors came over on the Mayflower and learning about their migration patterns as well as notable family lineage.
Because ChatGPT’s deep research feature represents a significant advancement in the field of genealogical research, it offers the potential to uncover family histories with greater efficiency and depth.
One thing I like that ChatGPT deep research does that other chatbots don’t, is it asks follow-up questions.
It will question the prompt such as “Are you looking for the general history and origin of the Caswell surname?” and “Would you like information on notable people with the last name Caswell?”
By preparing detailed prompts and answering the chatbots follow-up questions, you can explore your ancestry more effectively.
Be sure to critically evaluate the AI-generated information and ask more questions. As with all research tools, combining AI capabilities with traditional methods and personal insights will yield the most comprehensive and accurate results.
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