RootsTech 2026 Together

Like many thousands across the globe I am joining the experience online again this year.

Having been to the live event twice.

First 11 years ago when it was a joint conference and then 8 years ago.

I also attended the RootsTech in London in 2019 and had planned to go to the second one which never happened.

The theme this year is together and in keeping with this the Society of Genealogists has scheduled some zoom Watch Parties.

So yesterday evening I joined one. Interestingly, the topic was such that it was geared towards an audience based in North America.

Many struggle to connect back to the country where their immigrants originated.

I like the rest of those in the party have a different perspective on this where family members disappear from their home country.

In the discussion afterwards I mentioned that DNA testing not only revealed a likely 2xgt grandfather but also in confirming my connections I discovered how some of the family had emigrated to Canada. This also led my to find that they were not alone and many from their county of Dorset had gone to that same area. They often emigrated together.

This morning we viewed the panel Guidelines for the Responsible Use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in Genealogy in 2026. This brought some interesting discussion afterwards. Many of us are wary about using AI particularly making sure we don’t disclose anything we wouldn’t want to be public. Privacy and copyright issues which many new to genealogy might not think to consider until it was too late.