Google has pulled a search feature that used AI to collect and surface health advice from anonymous internet contributors. The feature, known as “What People Suggest,” presented user-generated health perspectives in organized themes and was intended to complement existing medical search results. Its removal has been confirmed by the company, though the explanation provided raises serious transparency concerns.
Google unveiled the feature at “The Check Up,” its annual health event held in New York, as part of a broader narrative about AI’s role in improving health outcomes. Karen DeSalvo, then the company’s top health executive, authored a post explaining how the feature would help users connect with others living with similar conditions. It was initially rolled out to American mobile users.
Google’s spokesperson attributed the feature’s removal to search page simplification, categorically denying that safety or quality concerns were involved. However, attempts to verify this account were frustrated when the blog post cited as the public announcement contained no reference to the discontinued feature. The inconsistency has fueled suspicion that the real reasons were more significant than Google is admitting.
The wider picture involves serious criticism of Google’s AI health tools. An investigation this year found that AI Overviews — which appear to roughly two billion users monthly — had been generating false and misleading health information. Google subsequently removed some medical AI Overviews, though health experts described the response as insufficient and overdue.
Google’s next health event is expected to showcase its latest efforts in AI-driven health research. Yet the company will need to do more than announce exciting new tools if it wants to be taken seriously as a trustworthy health information platform. Transparent handling of failures, not just polished launches, will be the real measure of Google’s commitment to responsible health AI.