AI, Xenotransplants, and Epidemics Converge

Researchers have identified the molecular trigger for a rare blood-clotting disorder linked to certain COVID-19 vaccines, while also grappling with the increasing role of artificial intelligence in healthcare and the ongoing challenges of epidemics. The findings, published in The New England Journal of Medicine, shed light on vaccine-induced immune thrombocytopenia and thrombosis (VITT), a condition that affected approximately one in 200,000 people after receiving the Johnson & Johnson vaccine in the United States, according to Source 2.

The news comes as the medical field navigates the complexities of emerging technologies and the persistent threats of disease. In the medical drama "The Pitt," tensions over the use of AI at the Pittsburgh Trauma Medical Center reached a boiling point in a recent episode, according to Source 4. A new attending physician, Baran Al-Hashimi, aimed to improve hospital efficiencies with AI systems, claiming they could reduce charting time by 80%. However, doctors discovered the AI tool had fabricated patient details and made errors, leading to conflict among the staff. "AIs two percent error rate is still better than dictation," Al-Hashimi said, according to Source 4, "adding that it needs to be proofread for errors."

Meanwhile, the film "A Prayer for the Dying," set in 1870s Wisconsin, offers a timely reflection on epidemics and wildfires, according to Source 3. The film's director, Dara Van Dusen, explores themes relevant to contemporary challenges.

In other news, a correction was issued to a Nature article published on November 13, 2025, regarding a pig-to-human kidney xenotransplant, according to Source 1. The corrections addressed errors in figure labels, ensuring the accuracy of the published research.

The rapid advancements in artificial intelligence continue to spark debate. In a viral essay on X, Matt Shumer compared the current state of AI to the early days of the COVID-19 pandemic, according to Source 5. Shumer argued that AI has evolved from a "useful assistant to general cognitive substitute."