Family Tree Magazine Podcast

Episode: Reflecting on the World of Genealogy in 2025 – An Interview with Andrew Koch

Date: December 1, 2025
Host: Lisa Louise Cooke
Guest: Andrew Koch, Editor of Family Tree Magazine

Episode Overview

In this year-end episode, Lisa Louise Cooke and Andrew Koch take listeners through the major developments in genealogy during 2025. The discussion centers on innovations in genetic genealogy (DNA testing), the integration of artificial intelligence in research tools, significant website and software updates, and the shifting automation landscape in genealogy. The episode closes with reflections on Lisa’s tenure and the announcement of her departure from the podcast.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Major Advances in Genetic Genealogy (DNA)

• Ethnicity Estimate Updates ([01:02]):
  • "Looking back, we might think of this as the year of the DNA updates...three of the major companies released or announced major updates to their ethnicity estimates." — Andrew Koch
  • Ancestry: Biggest ever update, added/updated 60+ European regions, introduced “origins” and new journeys (formerly "genetic communities"), and a new macro-regions display for greater consistency year to year.
    • DNA Clusters tool: Advanced visualization of DNA matches; now part of “Pro Tools” subscription ([02:36]).
  • MyHeritage: Rolled out ethnicity estimate version 2.5—nearly double the number of ethnicities covered.
    • Discontinued free DNA uploads. Users must now test directly with MyHeritage to use the service ([03:36]-[04:56]).
    • Announced move to whole genome sequencing for DNA tests; existing users must retest to benefit. Still unclear how this will affect consumer results but seen as an industry-shifting move ([05:01]-[06:07]).
      • "They're going to be processing your DNA in a more comprehensive kind of way...that could potentially be a really big update, not just for MyHeritage but for the industry." — Andrew Koch ([05:25])
  • 23andMe:
    • Announced version 7 of their ancestry composition results; first major update since 2022 ([06:21]).
    • Faced significant turmoil: suffered a data breach, legal and financial challenges, declared bankruptcy in March, then bought by a group led by its co-founder.
      • "23andMe over the last couple years has been struggling financially...finally, back in March, they declared bankruptcy. So their future was in question..." — Andrew Koch ([06:21]-[07:43])
    • 23andMe’s business less diversified than competitors, making it vulnerable ([07:43]).

2. The Expanding Role of Artificial Intelligence in Genealogy

• Full Text Search at FamilySearch ([08:34]):
  • Tool uses AI to allow text searching across scanned microfilm images (e.g., land, probate records).
  • Expanded in 2025; now integrated in the main menu and exiting beta phase.
    • "Their goal is to have all their unindexed records in there at some point." — Andrew Koch ([08:34])
  • Success stories noted from previously hard-to-access records ([09:48]).
• Newspaper Databases with AI and OCR:
  • MyHeritage completed their “Names and Stories Index” for U.S. newspapers (including French papers), making vast troves of newspaper content (not just obituaries) searchable by name ([10:08]-[11:09]).
• Elephind.com Returns ([11:09]):
  • Search engine for distributed newspaper collections is back online and free (subscription model possible in the future).
  • Noted for incorporating AI-powered semantic search, such that searching “WW1” can yield 1918 articles about the war, despite the term not being used then.
    • "The AI understands the modern day version of what you're saying, so that it goes and finds the equivalent of that and still can deliver you the results..." — Lisa Louise Cooke ([12:57])
• AI Integration in Software and Tools:
  • AI becoming standard across genealogical websites and apps.
  • Generative AI (e.g., ChatGPT) used as a research assistant but should not replace primary sources ([16:45]-[17:42]).
    • "The big caveat I've heard is you should treat a chatbot like it's a pretty good research assistant, not a primary source." — Andrew Koch ([16:45])

3. Key Website and Software Updates

• Website Revamps ([11:14]-[12:27])
  • Significant updates to the FamilySearch Catalog, Chronicling America, Atlas of Historical County Boundaries, WikiTree, and Irish National Archives.
• Family Tree Software Improvements ([13:29]):
  • Family Tree Maker 2024: Faster load times, more intuitive interface, collaborative “connect workspace,” enhanced data backup/cloud syncing ([13:36]).
  • RootsMagic 11 and Mac Family Tree 11 both released this year ([14:41]).
    • "That new edition has faster load times, a more intuitive user interface, and this new connect workspace..." — Andrew Koch ([13:36])

4. The Impact and Future of Automation in Genealogy

• Increasing Automation ([21:08]-[21:53]):
  • Newcomers experience research less as fact-finding, more as data management and analysis (e.g., keeping up with record hints and automated matches).
    • "It becomes a conversation about how to manage the data...instead of finding the data yourself." — Andrew Koch ([21:34])
  • Efficiency is up, but risk of error from over-automation persists.
    • "Automation is great until it gives you information that isn't correct, hooks you up to the wrong ancestor." — Andrew Koch ([21:54])
  • The thrill of discovery is changing, but automation might enable even deeper research for more people ([22:54]).

5. Industry Trends to Watch

• Full Text Search and Indexing Expansion:
  • Further digitization and AI-based indexing will lower the barrier for finding hard-to-access records ([19:19]).
• Advancements in DNA Tech:
  • Emerging features like whole-genome sequencing and “artifact testing” (analyzing stamps/envelopes with ancestral DNA).
    • "Another development...is artifact testing. Sending in a stamp or an envelope that your ancestor licked instead of relying on a saliva sample..." — Andrew Koch ([19:16])
    • MyHeritage’s interest in artifact testing was a big talking point at past conferences ([20:29]).
• General Shifts:
  • Genealogy becoming ever more automated, accessible, and self-directed.
  • Continued blending of AI across all genealogy tools, not just through stand-alone chatbots ([18:28]-[18:42]).

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On the Industry's Surprises ([20:39]):

  • "Sometimes when I tell people I'm the editor of a genealogy magazine, they look at me funny. Like, genealogy is about dead people, what news is there? And I'm always—the industry never ceases to surprise me what comes up. And it's very much a living, breathing sort of ecosystem..." — Andrew Koch ([20:39])

• On AI's Growing Role ([18:06]):

  • "So sort of an arms race of who can get the best tool and become, if I may, the Google of an AI chatbot...it's going to be interesting." — Andrew Koch ([18:06])

• On Automation and User Experience ([21:34]):

  • "It becomes a conversation about how to manage the data that you are seeing instead of finding the data yourself." — Andrew Koch ([21:34])
  • "It's more about assessing record hints than it is identifying record sets...it's really more of a data retrieval and analysis question, less of a fact finding mission." — Andrew Koch ([21:54])

• Farewell to a Longtime Host ([24:56]):

  • "You've just brought such passion and care and expertise and warmth to the podcast. And, you know, we can only hope to carry that forward, you know, moving on." — Andrew Koch ([24:56])

Timestamps for Major Segments

• DNA Testing Industry Updates: 01:02 – 08:19
• AI and Full Text Search in Genealogy: 08:19 – 13:29
• Software & Website Upgrades: 13:29 – 14:58
• State of Automation & Impact on Researchers: 21:08 – 22:54
• Emerging Trends & The Future: 19:16 – 21:08, 22:54 – 23:41
• Farewell and Podcast Transition: 24:41 – 27:22

Closing & Future Plans

• Host Transition: Lisa Louise Cooke announces her departure as host after 17 years, with Andrew Koch stepping in from January 2026.
• Podcast to Add Video Version: Beginning in 2026, the podcast will be available on YouTube.
• Lisa’s New Project: Lisa hints at a new venture launching in 2026 and invites listeners to follow her updates at genealogygems.com.

For show notes and resources, visit: familytreemagazine.com/podcast