Google has removed a feature from its search engine that used AI to gather and present health recommendations from internet users with no medical expertise. The tool, known as “What People Suggest,” was confirmed as discontinued by both Google and three independent sources familiar with the decision. The company offered a limited explanation that critics have described as evasive.
Google unveiled the feature at its health conference in New York, where it was presented as an innovative way to surface authentic human health experiences in search. Then-chief health officer Karen DeSalvo described the feature in a published blog post, highlighting how it could help people with chronic conditions like arthritis benefit from the experiences of others. The feature was initially deployed on mobile devices for US users.
Google’s spokesperson stated the removal was part of a broader simplification of the search results page, denying that safety or quality concerns were factors. The claim was undermined when the company pointed to a blog post — ostensibly the public notice of the change — that contained no reference to the discontinued feature. This gap in communication has drawn criticism from observers of health AI policy.
The context makes this removal particularly significant. An investigation earlier this year found that Google’s AI Overviews were presenting medically inaccurate information to approximately two billion users monthly. Google removed AI Overviews from some health queries in response, though the broader concern about AI health misinformation on the platform has not been resolved.
With the next edition of “The Check Up” approaching, Google will have another chance to articulate its vision for AI in healthcare. Whether the company can shift from a pattern of quiet retreats and unconvincing explanations to genuine transparency and accountability will be a defining question for its credibility in the health technology space.