TLDR: The University of Waterloo recently hosted Critical Tech Talk 12, featuring Dr. Joshua Delpapa, who discussed ‘vibe coding’ – an intuitive, flexible approach to AI prototyping. The talk highlighted how this method empowers individuals without traditional computing backgrounds to develop essential medical tools, such as AI for real-time skin cancer detection, fostering human-centered technological advancements in healthcare.
Waterloo, ON – The University of Waterloo’s Faculty of Arts recently convened Critical Tech Talk 12, an insightful session titled ‘Vibe Coding with AI for Cancer Detection – Building Mini Medical Machines in the Shadow of “Big Tech”.’ Held on Thursday, July 24, 2025, the event delved into innovative approaches for integrating artificial intelligence into healthcare, particularly focusing on empowering a broader range of individuals to contribute to medical technology development.
The central theme of the talk was ‘vibe coding,’ described as a flexible, intuition-driven method for prototyping. This approach aims to democratize the creation of medical tools, enabling individuals from non-computing backgrounds to design and implement solutions that directly address clinical needs. The discussion underscored the blurring lines between expert developers and end-users as AI becomes increasingly embedded in healthcare and creative workflows.
Dr. Joshua Delpapa, a resident physician in Diagnostic and Molecular Pathology at the University of Western Ontario, was the featured speaker. Dr. Delpapa, who holds an MD from Queen’s University and a PhD in biochemistry with a specialization in human and molecular genetics from the University of Ottawa, shared his unique perspective. His research bridges diagnostic dermatopathology, physician-centered interface design, and artificial intelligence, with a particular emphasis on developing transparent, clinician-empowering tools. During his presentation, Dr. Delpapa drew from his experience in building fast, lightweight AI utilities for cancer detection and clinical documentation. He highlighted how small-scale code experiments can significantly unlock agency and challenge institutional inertia within the medical field.
Dr. Delpapa’s work includes the development of a fully offline AI platform designed for real-time skin cancer classification, exemplifying the practical application of ‘vibe coding.’ The talk aimed to foster a discussion on how personal toolmaking can serve as a vital alternative to extractive models of technological development, promoting more grounded and human-centered applications of technology in medicine and beyond.
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The session was moderated by Dr. Marcel O’Gorman, University Research Chair, professor of English, and founding director of the Critical Media Lab (CML) at the University of Waterloo. Dr. O’Gorman’s expertise in critical media studies and responsible innovation provided a fitting framework for the discussion on the societal impacts of technology in healthcare.
