What Does a Doctor Look Like? Asking AI

In this article from the British Medical Journal, the author examines AI-generated images of doctors using OpenAI’s ChatGPT, comparing these depictions with real-world medical workforce data. A total of 24 images were generated, with eight images each for NHS, UK, and US doctors across different specialties. The results showed that only 25 percent of the generated images depicted female doctors, with women appearing in specialties such as obstetrics and pediatrics. In terms of ethnicity, 75 percent of US doctors were shown as white. Notably, images generated with the NHS prompt predominantly featured ethnic minority doctors, while those with the UK prompt depicted white doctors.