Unlock Hidden Family Records with FamilySearch’s Cutting-Edge Artificial Intelligence Technology
Speaker: Todd Knowles
Sunday, November 8, 2026
9:30 – 10:00 AM (MT)
Schmear, Schmooze, and Share
10:00 AM (MT)
Program Begins
Location: Zoom
This NEW AI-powered Full-Text Search is a true genealogy game changer.
Join Todd Knowles as he explores FamilySearch’s powerful new AI Full-Text Search feature—and shows you exactly how to use it to uncover records you never knew existed.
Whether you’re a beginner or a seasoned family historian, this tool can help you break through brick walls by searching the entire contents of historical documents—not just the indexed portions, but unindexed materials as well.
FamilySearch’s AI can read through millions of scanned documents, including handwritten records and old letters. It analyzes every word, scribble, and note—even when your ancestor’s name was never included in an official index.
You can now uncover:
- Hidden family connections
- Mentions in court records
- Names buried in wills and land deeds
- References in meeting notes and other overlooked documents
You are no longer limited by what has been manually indexed.
About Todd Knowles
W. Todd Knowles is Deputy Chief Genealogical Officer at FamilySearch, where he has worked for over 23 years.
Introduced to family history at age 11, he soon discovered his Jewish roots. His journey to trace his Polish Jewish ancestry led to the creation of the Knowles Collection, six databases containing genealogical records for nearly 1.5 million individuals.
Todd is a former President of the Jewish Genealogical Society of Utah. He has lectured worldwide, and his articles have been widely published.
Registration is required:
https://www.jgsco.org/event-6571619
- Members: No charge
- Non-members: $5
The Zoom link will be emailed upon registration.
