'The Pitt' season 2 slips in AI warnings amid the chaos of saving lives

One of the greatest things about HBO Max’s medical drama, The Pitt, is that it isn’t afraid to stick its nose in all areas of life. In some ways, this show is the perfect avenue to talk about anything it wants to because the emergency room, or pitt, as it’s referred to here, is where real life happens and where it comes at you fast.

Religion, sex, drugs, mental health, and money are all on the table for dissection. One of those things might have led a person to be admitted to the ER. And likely, at least one of those things will need to be discussed before leaving.

So, it’s only fitting that a show where nothing is taboo in the context of working through a problem would take up the topic of artificial intelligence. Like everything, AI is a double-edged sword, and The Pitt is making sure you see both sides of it.

As season two of The Pitt covers ICE, AI, cyber attacks, and all kinds of modern topics, it never strays from the human element.

The tech angle comes to the emergency room

During several of the early-hour episodes, the mentions of AI made my ears perk up instantly. First, it’s the introduction of using machine learning transcription to record patient interactions. And then the tech being shown for transcribing doctor notes.

Although several interactions with the technology in multiple appearances aren’t overly positive, I was surprised to see it hasn’t been made the villain either.

One of the recurring themes from start to finish is the mountain of notes and administrative work that these workers have to do above and beyond saving lives. This is the clear counterpoint to why AI is appearing in hospitals and the medical field.

As much as some people might want to see these techy tools be the cause of a downfall, The Pitt treats AI overall fairly. It’s also a completely realistic representation of the current state of the industry.

I found myself in urgent care in mid-April and overheard a doctor from a few stalls over asking a patient if they could record their interaction to be transcribed later. My ears again perked up to hear the response to the request. The person agreed, the doctor made another quip about it making his life easier, and then I went back to my bloody leg.

What about the shooting at PittFest?

Although interesting, AI is merely a footnote in season two. The show covers so many stories and topics over its 15-episode run. The flawed characters are made human and relatable, even if they would rub you the wrong way in person. The show remains a masterclass in dialogue and humor.

If you want to haggle over where The Pitt falls down, some people might say it's in its interconnected storytelling. There was a mass shooting in season one that largely fell by the wayside in season two. There’s seemingly no sub-plot that uncovers a former patient as the gunman or any big reveal.

That’s not to say there are no connected storylines or throughlines from season one. There are several, but so far, the show isn’t building a conspiracy underworld.

The whole premise of The Pitt is to show the breadth and scope of emergency medical workers. Those workers don’t have time to write patient notes and follow up like they would like to, so any detour down paths other than attending to those patients would be more fantasy than anything else.

There are plenty of other shows willing to weave in mythology and conspiracy subplots, but The Pitt opts out of some of those storytelling elements to focus on what its mission has been from the beginning.

Is The Pitt season 2 worth watching?

I tend to watch The Pitt through the slits of my fingers as I hold my hand up in front of the TV. It’s a series that’s not afraid to show anything, blood and guts included. However, that mostly means that the show doesn’t shy away from any topic. That’s what I’ve come to appreciate the most over the first two seasons.

The major system outage, which is the primary plot point for season two, isn’t the same driver as the mass shooting was in season one. And yet, season two doesn’t feel weaker or any less impactful as entertainment. The individual stories that grace each hour, each episode, remain strong and compelling.

Even if you need to watch (or listen to) the show while blocking the blood, it’s still worth tuning into. Seasons one and two of The Pitt are now available to stream in full on HBO Max.