Months after quietly removing a feature that served amateur health advice to users, Google has confirmed the tool is gone. “What People Suggest” gathered health perspectives from internet discussions and organized them using AI, presenting them to users seeking medical guidance. Three insiders confirmed the removal, and Google’s explanation left significant gaps in transparency.
The feature was first unveiled at Google’s “The Check Up” health-focused event in New York, where Karen DeSalvo, then heading Google’s health efforts, outlined its purpose. She argued the tool would help bridge the gap between clinical medical advice and the experiences of real people managing health conditions. The AI-organized community perspectives were seen as a way to make health search more empathetic and relatable.
Google’s spokesperson denied safety was a factor in pulling the plug, calling the removal part of a broader simplification of its search layout. This explanation was complicated when the company pointed to a blog post as evidence of public disclosure, only for that post to contain no mention of the feature. The disconnect between the company’s claims and the available evidence has drawn criticism.
The removal takes place amid intensifying scrutiny of Google’s approach to health content. A major investigation earlier this year found that AI Overviews on Google Search were generating false and misleading health information at scale. The summaries, which appear to two billion users monthly, were flagged as a public health risk by independent experts.
As Google’s next “The Check Up” event approaches, questions linger about how the company intends to responsibly develop AI health tools. The pattern of launching bold features and quietly discontinuing them without explanation raises concerns about internal accountability. Health advocates are urging Google to adopt more rigorous standards before putting AI-generated health content in front of billions of users.
Inside Google’s Silent Removal of a Feature That Crowdsourced Amateur Medical Tips
