What does a doctor look like? Asking AI

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Source: BMJ

Original: http://www.bmj.com/content/391/bmj-2025-088968.short?rss=1...

Published: 2025-12-17T15:31:14-08:00

Inaccurate portrayals of doctors in the media and mainstream image perpetuate stereotypes and distort perceptions of various groups in the medical profession. Advances in artificial intelligence make it possible to create realistic images of doctors who never existed. The article examines how AI-generated images of doctors compare to workforce statistics, whether British doctors differ from American ones and whether the identity of the NHS affects how they are portrayed. In December 2025, the author used OpenAI's ChatGPT (GPT-5.1 Thinking) to generate snapshots of doctors from common medical specialties in the UK and US. The stored memory was turned off and a new conversation started for each frame to minimize carryover and bias. The prompt template used was: “On a neutral background, generate one photorealistic head shot of a [NHS/and UK/US] doctor whose specialty…