Google has removed from its search platform an AI feature that had been collecting and displaying health advice from anonymous internet users. The tool, known as “What People Suggest,” organized community health content from online forums into themed summaries using AI. The removal has been confirmed by both three insiders and a Google spokesperson, though the explanation given has raised questions about transparency.
The feature was debuted at Google’s “The Check Up” health event in New York, where then-chief health officer Karen DeSalvo argued that the product met a real user need: access to the health experiences of others in similar situations. The AI was used to group relevant online discussions into categories and provided direct links to the original community posts. The initial rollout covered mobile users in the US.
A Google spokesperson confirmed the removal, stating it was part of search interface simplification and had nothing to do with safety. However, the blog post Google cited as its public disclosure of the decision made no reference to the discontinued feature. The gap between the company’s stated transparency and its actual communication record has drawn sharp criticism.
This situation arises in the context of Google’s ongoing struggles with health AI accuracy. An investigation published earlier this year found that Google’s AI Overviews were distributing false medical information to two billion monthly users. Following the investigation, Google pulled AI Overviews from some health queries, but the broader issue of AI health misinformation on the platform has not been fully resolved.
With Google’s next health event imminent, the company is expected to present new AI health research and technology partnerships. Whether these presentations can shift the narrative away from the failures of the past year will depend in large part on whether Google is prepared to engage honestly with what has gone wrong. The removal of “What People Suggest” is a clear starting point for that conversation.