A Google search feature that delivered AI-curated health advice sourced from anonymous internet users has been discontinued. Called “What People Suggest,” the feature organized crowdsourced health content from online forums and presented it to users making medical queries. The removal has now been confirmed by Google, though details around the decision remain thin.
Google introduced the tool at its health-focused event in New York, framing it as a step toward more personalized and empathetic health search experiences. Karen DeSalvo, who was then overseeing Google’s health division, wrote that people searching for health information benefit from both clinical expertise and the perspectives of others who have faced similar challenges. The feature was launched initially on mobile devices for users in the United States.
The company confirmed its removal, attributing it to a broader effort to simplify the search results page. Safety and content quality were explicitly ruled out as factors. But skepticism remains, especially given that the only “public” communication Google could point to was a blog post that made no mention of the discontinued feature.
This comes against a backdrop of substantial concern about Google’s use of AI in health-related search. An investigation published earlier this year found that Google’s AI Overviews regularly served medically inaccurate information to roughly two billion users monthly. Following the investigation, Google removed AI Overviews for certain health searches, though critics argued the steps taken were insufficient.
At its next “The Check Up” event, Google plans to present further AI health research and innovation. The company’s ability to translate ambition into responsible, trustworthy products will be closely watched by healthcare professionals and regulators alike. The fate of “What People Suggest” is an early warning that bold health AI initiatives need to be paired with careful safeguards and honest communication.
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