R. Scott Gemmill’s “The Pitt” is known for paying attention to medical accuracy and explore issues affecting the U.S. healthcare system. The story takes place in an understaffed hospital where everything moves at breakneck speed, forcing doctors to deal with an ever-changing door of patients with unique needs — an approach that medical professionals have praised for its authenticity. However, the series also chronicles the systematic aspect of the profession, such as its AI – a topic explored in season 2 of “The Pitt.” (read our review here).
In the second installment of HBO Max’s hit medical series, newcomer Dr. Al-Hashimi (Sepideh Moafi) uses AI tools to help her with her tasks. This includes experimenting with an app that transcribes a patient’s dialogue in Episode 2, but it’s not entirely accurate, as his colleagues kindly point out. Regardless, Al-Hashimi believes that the app corrects most of the facts, which is still better than writing reports from scratch, provided that the AI’s so-called facts are verified for accuracy. Dr. Roby (Noah Wyle), however, seems less enthusiastic about doctors using AI, as he is an old-school type. Is this shaping up to be a central conflict in season 2?
Much has been written about AI massacres our favorite filmsbut how does this affect the American healthcare system? Well, it’s a polarizing and controversial topic, and this storyline from “The Pitt” season 2 reflects what’s happening in some real-world medical institutions.
AI is developing in the health system
It seems many doctors agree with Dr. Al-Hashimi’s methods on “The Pitt.” A survey published by the American Medical Association found that 66% of physicians reported using generative AI for administrative tasks in 2024, a significant increase from 38% in 2023.
Supporters of AI used in medicine believe it will ultimately help healthcare workers by preventing them from burning out. This is because they reduced the time spent on administrative tasks – the same argument made by Al-Hashimi in “The Pitt.” Conversely, naysayers and skeptics argue that AI is prone to errors and malfunctions, meaning it could prove very costly in the long run. Of course, errors and inaccurate information could negatively impact patients, especially if medical staff forget to verify the information provided.
“The Pitt” seems to want to explore all facets of the AI debate. By speaking to Los Angeles TimesR. Scott Gemmell emphasized that the goal is to ask questions about the ultimate impact of these tools on the health system. As he said:
“Like any other tool, it has the potential to be used for good and can lead to disaster. We’re not really exploring the disaster side of it yet, just what the realities are. The fear is that it will make doctors more efficient, especially with things like charting, but will that time then go back to the patients or will they just have to see more patients?”
It remains to be seen what kind of stance “The Pitt” takes towards AI. That said, by making it a big topic in Season 2, it’s clear that the show’s creators want to approach it with some nuance and smugness.
