Publication Date: August 4, 2026
Can artificial intelligence save lives before it’s too late?
After witnessing a devastating medical error in a hospital corridor, twenty-five-year-old Stanford PhD student Alex uncovers a disturbing reality: thousands of patients die each year from diagnoses that should never have been missed.
When his grandmother narrowly survives a misdiagnosis, the problem becomes deeply personal. Driven by determination and scientific curiosity, Alex and his best friend launch Vitanova, an AI-powered diagnostic startup with one mission: help physicians catch what others overlook.
As Vitanova grows into one of Silicon Valley’s most talked-about AI companies, success comes at a price. A ruthless investor, hidden agendas, and fractured relationships force Alex to confront the personal cost of changing the future of medicine.
Misdiagnosis of his grandmother’s illness serves as a catalyst for a man to create a powerful AI tool designed to help medical providers.
Author Alessandro Sappia uses first-person to tell the fictional story of Alex Mercer and his struggle to create Vitanova in Silicon Hearts.
Organized much like a memoir, the story combines the technical aspects of building an AI-powered diagnostic tool with the personal relational aspects.
The path from start-up to success doesn’t come without numerous setbacks. A workplace romance threatens to destroy everything Alex has built, while continued funding proves a stumbling block.
Alex’s journey to achieve his dream serves as the story’s framework, along with an unexpected twist.
Silicon Hearts delivers an inside look at how a man made his dream come true while highlighting the pitfalls along the way.
Alessandro Sappia is an Italian writer, entrepreneur, and technology innovator based in Abu Dhabi. Throughout his career, he has lived and worked across Europe and the Middle East, founding businesses and contributing to projects that bridge technology, innovation, and human potential. His international experiences have given him a unique perspective on culture, progress, and the forces that shape the modern world, themes that often influence his writing.
