AI in Genealogy Reports: Ethical Use & Proper Acknowledgement

The integration of Artificial Intelligence (AI) into genealogy research is rapidly transforming the field, offering powerful tools for data analysis, record interpretation, and report generation. However, this technological advancement brings forth important ethical considerations, particularly concerning the proper acknowledgment of AI's role in research reports. This article aims to provide clear guidance on how to ethically use AI in genealogical research and how to accurately cite and acknowledge its contributions, ensuring transparency and maintaining the integrity of your work.

The Rise of AI in Genealogical Research

AI is increasingly being used by genealogists to streamline and enhance their research process. Tools like ChatGPT and other Large Language Models (LLMs) offer assistance with tasks such as:

• Summarizing Documents:

  Condensing lengthy transcriptions or historical records into concise summaries.

• Refining Writing: Editing and improving sentence structure for Clarity and impact.
• Generating Ideas: Providing suggestions and insights for research directions.

However, the use of AI raises several important questions:

• When should AI involvement be disclosed?
• How should AI Tools be cited?
• Is it ethical to use AI for editing without disclosure?

These questions require careful consideration to ensure ethical research practices.

Challenges and Ethical Dilemmas of Using AI

As AI becomes more prevalent in genealogy, several challenges and ethical dilemmas arise that researchers must address:

• Transparency: It's crucial to be transparent about the use of AI in your research. Failing to disclose AI's role can mislead readers about the authenticity and Originality of your findings. This is extremely important for establishing credibility as a researcher and avoiding plagiarism-related issues. The question many are facing is, how much of it needs to be said to be AI-generated and how much can be “passed off” as their own work?
• Citation Standards: Establishing clear guidelines for citing AI tools is essential. Without proper citation, it's difficult to assess the reliability and validity of AI-generated content. With tools like Chat GPT, users may not even know Where To find the info they Seek without the help of AI, so this is a great tool for pointing users in the right direction.
• Authenticity: Over-reliance on AI can diminish the unique perspective and analysis that a human researcher brings to genealogy. It's important to strike a balance between using AI tools and conducting independent critical analysis to ensure that the authenticity of the genealogical work is there.

Addressing these challenges is vital for maintaining the integrity of genealogical research and fostering trust within the genealogical community.

How to Cite ChatGPT in Your Research

Citing a ChatGPT conversation is straightforward:

1. Title: Use the title that ChatGPT automatically generates for your chat, enclosed in quotations. Alternatively, create your own descriptive title.
2. Tool Name and Version: Include the name of the chatbot (ChatGPT) and the version number used (e.g., Version 4). This is important because algorithms can change so users should always list the current version of the specific tools they were using.
3. User: List you, the user, in that algorithm. This is also important to show that a specific researcher or genealogist was the end user, instead of the computer doing it by itself.
4. Date of Conversation: Provide the date when the conversation occurred.
5. Publisher: Mention OpenAI as the publisher of ChatGPT.
6. URL: Include the URL of the specific chat or the general ChatGPT website.
7. Access Date: Add the date you accessed the chat. It's generally best practice to provide full transparency so that others can follow along with your process.

Here's an example:

"Clear, Neutral, Informative Tone," ChatGPT, Version 4, chat with Nicole Dyer, 28 March 2024, OpenAI (chat.openai.com/share/78488b29-9844-4420-b0b6-15bbca76d6e6 : accessed 8 Apr 2024).

Reference Note Citation for ChatGPT

Here's how you can reference note a citation for a ChatGPT conversation:

• Give each chat in quotes a short title, such as "Chat about the tone."
• Then, give the specifics of the version, the name of the person having the chat, the date, and the organization.
• Finally, provide the specific URL and when it was accessed.

Considerations for Multiple-Layered Citations

When AI is used to summarize external content, like a Wikipedia article, create a citation with two layers:

1. The first layer cites your conversation with ChatGPT.

2. The Second layer cites the original source summarized by the AI. For example:

   "Provided the first four paragraphs of X Chromosome," Wikipedia (en.wikipedia.org/wiki/X_Chromosome : last modified 30 April 2024).

3. Keep in mind that algorithms change, so it is important to provide proper information when referencing these specific chat results. This approach ensures that both the AI's contribution and the original source are properly credited.

Step 1: Identify Instances of Significant AI Contribution

Determine where AI has played a substantial role in creating content, such as generating summaries, explanations, or background information.

• Summaries of long transcriptions
• Explanations of laws
• **Background information about a place

Step 2: Choose an Appropriate Acknowledgment Method

Depending on the context, select one of the following methods:

• Limitations Section: For self-generated reports, mention AI use in the limitations section.
• First Page Footnote: In journals or publications, include a statement in the first page's footnote section.
• Individual Footnotes: For specific AI-generated summaries or explanations, use footnotes at the point where the information is presented.

Step 3: Draft a Clear and Concise Disclosure

Prepare a statement that is both informative and avoids excessive detail. For example:

• “AI was used to generate the summary of the deed below.”
• “The following background information was prepared with the assistance of AI.”

The goal is to be transparent without overwhelming your readers.

Step 4: Strive for Consistency

Maintain a consistent approach to acknowledging AI use throughout your report or article. This helps readers understand your methods and ensures that you're not making an exception just for a single Paragraph or a small portion of your writing.

Consistency enhances transparency and makes it easier for your audience to follow your research process.