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Can you use AI to write scientific papers without fabricated references, journal trouble or learning to code? I recorded this episode at the airport on my way to ESTP 2026 in Kraków. It's my practice run of the talk I gave there.

When deep learning came into pathology, people asked me if I was going to learn to code. I decided no. Large language models kind of proved me right. In this episode I walk you through how I use LLMs for writing papers, responding to co-authors, building slides and even running code, and the four rules that keep it safe:

1. Domain expertise is the prompt
2. Supply the sources
3. Encode corrections
4. The subject matter expert verifies

In this episode:

• What the LLM does vs. what the pathologist does, task by task
• What Toxicologic Pathology, Veterinary Pathology and Elsevier journals require when you disclose AI use
• Pathology LLM tools already working on tox study reports, image analysis and whole slide images
• The reference I didn't check that almost cost me a publication
• Why an LLM will happily justify switching patients from Tylenol to acetaminophen
• Automation bias, model bias, and how to start with the tools your institution has approved

Going to PathVisions 2026 in San Diego, Oct 16-18? Find me at the Hamamatsu booth #201. I'm also recording 8 short podcast interviews on site, Saturday and Sunday. Share your digital pathology story, grab a slot: https://calendar.google.com/calendar/appointments/schedules/AcZssZ0yjFhaL0kGJ7bZ18oITwyw-qY2yxvcDEyfqpj3LBulrRdiO4fRUkgM0Avlj_oJkIaw-0ZjhaC9

Links

Free book, Digital Pathology 101: https://www.aleksandrazuraw.com/book

Related episode:

How to teach AI to healthcare professionals, with Dr. Candice Chu:

Watch the video version on YouTube: https://youtu.be/eY7UywT-zRM?si=qK88eECJqoA-DqKF

References

Zuraw & Aeffner, Vet Pathol 2022. doi:10.1177/03009858211040484

Turner et al., Toxicol Pathol 2021. doi:10.1177/0192623321990375

Thirunavukarasu et al., Nat Med 2023. doi:10.1038/s41591-023-02448-8

Lu et al., J Transl Med 2026. doi:10.1186/s12967-026-08829-0

Doktorova et al., Arch Toxicol 2026. doi:10.1007/s00204-026-04414-y

Trost et al., Nat Med 2026. doi:10.1038/s41591-026-04357-y

Chen Y et al., Nat Cancer 2026. doi:10.1038/s43018-026-01220-4

Chu, Front Vet Sci 2024. doi:10.3389/fvets.2024.1395934

Jain et al., Cureus 2025. doi:10.7759/cureus.81618

Kurland et al., Neurosurgery 2025. doi:10.1227/neu.0000000000003354

Painter et al., JAMIA Open 2025. doi:10.1093/jamiaopen/ooaf003

Chen S et al., NPJ Digit Med 2025. doi:10.1038/s41746-025-02008-z

Dratsch et al., Radiology 2023. doi:10.1148/radiol.222176

Zack et al., Lancet Digit Health 2024. doi:10.1016/S2589-7500(23)00225-X

FDA Warning Letter 722591, Apr 2026

EMA/FDA, Guiding principles of good AI practice in drug development, Jan 2026

Huang & Chu, Front Vet Sci 2026. doi:10.3389/fvets.2026.1801756

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