A Google search feature that displayed AI-organized health tips from online communities has been discontinued after a brief and quiet existence. Called “What People Suggest,” the tool aggregated crowdsourced health perspectives and presented them to users seeking medical information. Its removal, confirmed by Google and three separate sources, was handled with minimal public transparency.
Google introduced the feature at its annual “The Check Up” health event held in New York, where company health executives outlined plans to make health search more personalized and community-driven. Karen DeSalvo, at the time Google’s chief health officer, explained that the tool was designed to complement expert-sourced medical information with real-world user experiences. The feature was made available to mobile users in the US as an initial rollout.
In response to questions, Google characterized the removal as part of routine adjustments to its search interface, denying that safety or content quality played a role. However, the explanation was undermined when the company struggled to point to any meaningful public communication about the change. The blog post cited as public notice made no mention of the feature being discontinued.
The episode adds to a string of credibility challenges Google has faced regarding AI in healthcare. An earlier investigation uncovered that Google’s AI Overviews were providing dangerously inaccurate health information to billions of monthly users. Although Google subsequently removed AI Overviews for some health searches, critics noted the action came only after significant media and public pressure.
Google’s next health event promises to highlight new AI research and medical technology partnerships. The company appears determined to position itself as a leader in AI-powered health solutions despite recent setbacks. Whether Google can regain trust in this sensitive domain will likely depend on its willingness to be open about failures rather than quietly burying them.