Google Ends AI Search Tool That Displayed Amateur Health Perspectives to Millions

Google has taken offline a search feature that used artificial intelligence to present community health perspectives from anonymous internet users. “What People Suggest” was designed to add a peer dimension to health search results by curating and organizing online discussion content. Three people with inside knowledge confirmed the removal before Google acknowledged it publicly.
The feature was announced at Google’s “The Check Up” conference in New York, where Karen DeSalvo, the company’s then-chief health officer, described it as a way to help users benefit from the experiences of others managing similar health conditions. The tool applied AI to surface organized health themes from online forums, offering a human element alongside clinical medical resources. US mobile users were the initial recipients.
Google confirmed the removal and stated it was driven by search page simplification rather than safety or quality concerns. When asked for public documentation of the decision, the company cited a blog post that contained no mention of the discontinued feature. Critics noted the inconsistency and called for clearer communication standards around health AI products.
The episode occurs in a broader context of concern about how Google handles health information in its AI tools. An earlier investigation found that AI Overviews were generating false medical content at scale, reaching approximately two billion users monthly. Following that finding, Google removed AI Overviews from some health topics, but calls for deeper systemic reform continue.
At its next health event, Google will look to project confidence about the potential of AI in healthcare. Rebuilding genuine public and professional trust, however, will require more than confident presentations. The fate of “What People Suggest” is a reminder that health AI products require careful management, honest communication, and a willingness to publicly address failures.