In this interview, MyHeritage’s senior product manager Alon Ehrenfeld gives a behind-the scenes look at how ScribeAI was developed and what it can do for your research.

Best Websites Episode 38: ScribeAI

One of the most exciting announcements from RootsTech 2026 was ScribeAI, MyHeritage’s new tool for transcribing and analyzing user-uploaded photos and documents.

Mentioned in this episode:

• An overview of ScribeAI and the details it provides as part of its analysis: a transcription of any text, context about the time and place a document was made or a photo was taken, and the reasoning behind each data point
• Real-life examples of how ScribeAI suggests areas of further research
• How AI tools like ScribeAI and MyHeritage’s PhotoDater are generally trained, and what makes ScribeAI stand out
• A unique summary of how MyHeritage comes up with new ideas for tools
• MyHeritage features that are still in development, including some hinted in CEO Gilad Japhet’s latest presentation at RootsTech (watch a recording here)
• The MyHeritage Blog, where users can about more new and updated website features

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• Expert tips and tricks to accelerate your research
• In-depth articles on a variety of genealogical topics
• Exclusive offers on new tools and resources

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Your Host

Andrew Koch is the Editor of Family Tree Magazine.

Join host Andrew Koch in an interview with Jonny Perl, founder of DNA Painter, who shares tips for using this popular genetic genealogy platform to more deeply analyze your DNA test results.

Feature: DNA Painter and Genetic Genealogy

The major testing companies each provide tools that analyze your results and provide insight into how you’re related to matches. But you can get even more out of your DNA by turning to specialized third-party platforms.

One of the most-popular is DNA Painter, which specializes in chromosome-mapping, identifying family clusters, and investigating family mysteries. In this episode of the Family Tree Magazine podcast, the site’s founder Jonny Perl provides expert guidance to the tools he’s created and what they can do for users.

Mentioned in this episode:

• An introduction to DNA Painter and how it can help genealogists
• How to get started on the site—including with a new page for beginner users
• Overviews of useful tools, including the Shared cM Project and “What are the Odds?” (WATO)
• The latest trends in DNA and genetic genealogy: clustering tools, deeper analysis, and possible AI enhancements
• A Facebook group for DNA Painter users
• New site features that are still in development

Stay in the Know

Sign up now for our FREE daily newsletter and get:

• Expert tips and tricks to accelerate your research
• In-depth articles on a variety of genealogical topics
• Exclusive offers on new tools and resources

Plus, find Family Tree Magazine on your favorite social channels!

Your Host

Andrew Koch is the Editor of Family Tree Magazine.

RootsTech is a large, multi-day genealogy conference that takes place annually in Salt Lake City, Utah. But not being able to make the trip doesn’t mean you have to miss out on excellent talks, groundbreaking news, and more. Andrew Koch explores the RootsTech website in this episode of Best Websites.

RootsTech 2026 was a hit! But even if you couldn’t attend in-person, you can enjoy a good number of talks simply by navigating the RootsTech website (https://www.familysearch.org/en/rootstech/).

Covered in this episode:

• Viewing Presentations and Features
• Engaging with the Community
• Resources

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Stay in the Know

Sign up now for our FREE daily newsletter and get:

• Expert tips and tricks to accelerate your research
• In-depth articles on a variety of genealogical topics
• Exclusive offers on new tools and resources

Plus, find Family Tree Magazine on your favorite social channels!

Your Host

Andrew Koch is the Editor of Family Tree Magazine.