AI as Partner, Not Replacement: Human-Led Research Planning in the Sally Keaton Case

Genealogical problems rarely yield to a single record search—and this webinar demonstrates how artificial intelligence can support stronger human-led research planning rather than replace it. In “AI as Partner, Not Replacement: Human-Led Research Planning in the Sally Keaton Case,” Nicole Elder Dyer walks through a real case study to show how AI can help organize evidence, sharpen hypotheses, and brainstorm next steps while keeping the genealogist firmly in charge. The session is especially relevant for researchers facing scattered clues, uncertain identities, or multi-state migration patterns, and it highlights practical ways to combine solid methodology with newer AI features for more focused, efficient progress.

• Research planning is positioned as a skill that separates “busy searching” from effective problem-solving. The webinar reinforces core elements—objective, known facts, working hypothesis, source identification, and prioritized strategy—while explaining how planning reduces duplicated effort, improves continuity after interruptions, and encourages better source selection.

• Three AI capabilities are showcased for planning work: side-by-side editors, reasoning modes, and project-style workspaces. Tools such as Canvas/Artifacts, “think longer” or extended thinking, and Projects/Spaces/Gems are framed as ways to draft and refine a plan, keep large bodies of notes and locality material together, and improve multi-step reasoning for complex questions.

• A case study comparison reveals the real value: AI accelerates drafting, but accuracy and completeness still depend on human oversight. The Sally Keaton investigation illustrates how AI can produce clean summaries and structured hypotheses, yet can omit relevant details, perpetuate transcription errors, or overstate the strength of DNA evidence unless guided carefully. Strategies for reducing confirmation bias—such as requesting alternative hypotheses—add a particularly useful research discipline.

Viewing the full webinar is recommended for the live demonstrations that show how prompts, settings, and workspace features change results, and for the nuanced comparison between AI-generated planning versus collaborative, human-directed planning. The complete session also provides additional examples of how to prioritize next steps, balance documentary research with DNA strategies, and keep a plan adaptable as new evidence emerges. For a deeper, more actionable experience, be sure to explore the extra resources included in the syllabus—designed to support repeatable workflows, strengthen locality research, and help turn promising clues into a clear, testable path forward.