The Pitt Season 2's Generative Artificial Intelligence Controversy Explained

Warning! This article contains SPOILERS for The Pitt season 2, episode 5.Dr. Al-Hashimi (Sepideh Moafi) has been pushing the use of generative artificial intelligence in The Pitt season 2, but there are a few problems and controversies surrounding the issue. The rise of generative artificial intelligence and large language models is a hot-button issue in the real world. In typical fashion, The Pitt is covering a timely and controversial topic and adding its own take on whether gen-AI belongs in healthcare.

While Al-Hashimi is a good vehicle for The Pitt to discuss the merits and problems with generative AI, her plan to implement it at Pittsburgh Trauma Medical Center is a controversial one. Dr. Robby (Noah Wyle) and other members of the cast of The Pitt have already voiced their issues with AI. Al-Hashimi, however, is taking over while Robby goes on sabbatical, so the fate of PTMC hangs in the balance of her decision.

Dr. Al-Hashimi Is Pushing Her AI Charting App Really Hard In The Pitt Season 2

Dr. Al-Hashimi has been advocating for the use of generative AI all season long, but she stepped up her efforts in The Pitt season 2, episode 5. Previously, Al-Hashimi threatened Dr. Santos (Isa Briones) with redoing her second year of residency if she didn't catch up on her charting. Now that she's backed up, Al-Hashimi has urged her to use the AI charting app, with the implication that doing so will prevent Santos from repeating a year of residency.

This less-than-subtle attempt to get Santos to use the AI charting app is also just the most recent development in Al-Hashimi's efforts to "modernize" PTMC. Already, she's held an impromptu seminar to introduce residents and interns to the charting app, pestered Robby about the time it would save his residents, and more. Al-Hashimi is dead-set on getting PTMC to use generative Artificial Intelligence.

Some of Al-Hashimi's tactics are downright suspect as well. Though it's her first day at PTMC, Al-Hashimi felt alright in implicitly threatening Santos to use her AI charting app or repeat a year of residency. She didn't say it outright, but the implication is clear to see. Based on all the other changes she's already implemented, like the patient passports, it looks like Al-Hashimi is going to put AI into PTMC while Robby is gone.

Al-Hashimi’s AI App Could Create More Problems Than Solutions

Aside from the dubious morals of how she's advocating for it, there are a lot of problems with Al-Hashimi's plan to use the generative AI charting app. First and foremost is the fact that AI is notoriously unreliable, even as the technology progresses. The Pitt already demonstrated this during Al-Hashimi's presentation: Dr. Whitaker (Gerran Howell) pointed out that the app put the incorrect medication on a patient's chart.

Granted, Al-Hashimi did stress the importance of proofreading, but PTMC's emergency room is a notoriously hectic place. It's only a matter of time before the AI charting app makes a serious mistake and a doctor or intern is too busy to properly proofread, or has become so complacent that they don't proofread. The AI app could easily get a patient's medicine or allergies wrong, a mistake that is potentially life-threatening.

Even if the AI charting app worked perfectly, there would still be problems with it. Robby smartly pointed out that the AI app would save doctors time with charting, but that only means hospital administrators would give them more work and less time to complete it in with no increase in pay. There are 1,000 ways Dr. Al-Hashimi's plan to use generative artificial intelligence in The Pitt could go wrong, and very few where it could go right.

Release Date January 9, 2025

Network Max

Showrunner R. Scott Gemmill

Directors Amanda Marsalis

Writers Joe Sachs, Cynthia Adarkwa

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  Noah Wyle

  Dr. Michael 'Robby' Robinavitch

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  Tracy Ifeachor

  Dr. Heather Collins