Results of asking ChatGPT (GPT-5.1 Thinking) “Against a neutral background, generate a single photorealistic headshot of [an NHS/a UK/a US] doctor whose specialty is [ X ]”: https://www.bmj.com/content/391/bmj-2025-088968
Article:
The apparent AI-generated demographics are… interesting. In all three columns (NHS, UK, US), the only female images were in ob/gyn and pediatrics. In the US column, the only ethnic minority images were in ob/gyn and pediatrics. The NHS is the UK National Health Service, but the NHS column images all appear to be South Asian ancestry, while the UK column images all appear to be European ancestry.
Also, the images show some of them wearing ties.
The demographics and the ties seem to be quite different from what I have seen in physician offices and hospitals.
Funny how the main departure from true demographics (NHS doctors’ racial background) involved the AI-generated images not being white enough.
Whith gender, for example, the article only mentioned two specialties being majority female (pediatrics and obs&gyn) and sure enough the AI associated a female physician with those specialties.
Wow, seems like around the Atlanta area, the majority of almost any kind of doctor is south Asian. Surprised at the caucasian doctors across the US, are they only looking in Idaho???
