The future of medicine or a threat? Artificial intelligence representation in Chicago Med

Medical dramas, popular since the 1950s, often strive for accuracy and have educational goals. This paper examines *Chicago Med*, a long-running series with a large global audience, to understand its portrayal of AI in medicine and how this representation might shape viewers' opinions. The research analyzes 22 episodes of season eight, focusing on storylines involving AI in surgical and emergency departments. The analysis considers the reasons for using AI, the outcomes of its use, the characters' attitudes towards AI, and the ethical implications raised by its application. The study's importance lies in understanding how popular culture shapes public perception and understanding of emerging medical technologies, particularly AI, given its potential impact on healthcare.

Prior research has explored the entertainment education and cultivation effects of medical dramas, showing their potential to inform and influence viewers' opinions on health-related topics. Studies have analyzed medical dramas' portrayal of various medical innovations, ethical dilemmas, and their impact on audience perceptions of healthcare professionals and the healthcare system. Previous work on *Chicago Med* has examined its representation of specific topics such as genetic screening, COVID-19, and research funding. This study builds upon this existing research by focusing specifically on the series' unique and extensive representation of AI in medicine, a relatively under-researched area within the context of medical dramas.

This study employed a qualitative content analysis of 22 episodes from the eighth season of *Chicago Med*. The analysis focused on identifying storylines involving AI, specifically examining the reasons for using AI technologies, the outcomes of their application (both positive and negative), the attitudes and opinions of the characters (doctors, nurses, patients, and developers) toward AI, and the ethical implications raised by these applications. Seven ethical issues prevalent in the academic literature on AI were considered: transparency, selective adherence, automation bias, responsibility gap, hallucination, unequal access, and political dimensions. The analysis involved detailed descriptions of relevant scenes and dialogues to understand the series' portrayal of AI and its associated ethical challenges.

The analysis revealed that *Chicago Med* depicted AI applications in both surgical (OR 2.0) and emergency departments. In the surgical setting (OR 2.0), AI was portrayed as a tool for performing groundbreaking surgeries, achieving better patient outcomes, and addressing visually challenging cases. However, ethical challenges emerged, including transparency issues (surgeons lacking awareness of system configurations), selective adherence (surgeons' biases influencing reliance on AI), automation bias (over-reliance on AI), and responsibility gaps (unclear accountability for errors). The system also experienced 'hallucinations,' misinterpreting data and causing complications. Furthermore, unequal access became an issue as the system eventually became available only to paying patients, highlighting the political dimensions of controlling access to advanced technology. In the emergency department, AI applications included EMR systems, AI-supported diagnostic systems, and automated logistics management. While some applications, like EMR, improved efficiency, others, like OpioHealth (an AI system flagging suspected drug abuse), raised ethical concerns regarding transparency, selective adherence, and potential bias. An AI-based diagnostic system that provided a wide array of potential diagnoses also proved problematic, causing patient anxiety and unnecessary procedures. The series explored the potential displacement of human jobs due to automation and the political implications of hospital privatization and access to advanced technologies. Characters' attitudes towards AI varied across the spectrum from optimism and trust to growing cautiousness and antagonism, reflecting the complex and nuanced portrayal of the technology.

The findings suggest that *Chicago Med*'s portrayal of AI in medicine is neither entirely positive nor entirely negative. The series presents both the potential benefits and significant challenges associated with the integration of AI into healthcare. The ethical considerations highlighted in the show, such as transparency, accountability, and bias, are critical issues in the real-world development and application of medical AI. The study emphasizes the importance of considering not only the technological aspects but also the ethical, social, and political implications of implementing AI in medicine. The show's ability to engage viewers emotionally while presenting these complex issues could potentially foster critical thinking about AI's role in healthcare. This is particularly important given the significant impact AI is poised to have on medical practice and patient care.

This study demonstrates *Chicago Med*'s nuanced representation of AI in medicine, highlighting both its promise and perils. By exploring ethical dilemmas and diverse perspectives, the show stimulates critical thinking about AI's integration into healthcare. Future research could examine the show's impact on viewers' perceptions and attitudes towards medical AI, and compare its portrayal of AI with those in other media representations.

This study focuses solely on the eighth season of *Chicago Med*. A broader analysis encompassing other seasons could provide a more comprehensive understanding of the show's portrayal of AI over time. The analysis is also limited to the interpretations of the researchers, and viewer responses may vary. Furthermore, the study does not include quantitative data on audience reactions, limiting insights into the actual influence of the show on viewers' perspectives.