A Google search tool that delivered AI-organized health advice from ordinary internet users has been quietly removed, the company confirmed. Known as “What People Suggest,” the feature assembled community health content from online discussions and organized it by theme using artificial intelligence. Three insiders confirmed its discontinuation before Google offered its own acknowledgment.
The feature made its public debut at Google’s annual “The Check Up” health event in New York, with then-chief health officer Karen DeSalvo outlining its purpose in a company blog post. The feature was intended to help users with conditions like arthritis find practical, peer-sourced health tips rather than relying solely on clinical sources. Initial availability was limited to mobile users in the United States.
Google’s explanation for the removal was that it was part of a simplification of search results layout and was unrelated to safety. When asked to provide evidence of public communication about the decision, the company pointed to a blog post that contained no reference to the feature. One person familiar with the matter said simply: “It’s dead.”
The episode fits into a broader narrative of concern about Google’s health AI products. Earlier this year, an investigation revealed that Google’s AI Overviews were providing false health information to billions of users monthly. While Google removed some medical AI Overviews in response, the underlying issue of AI-generated health misinformation on the platform has not been comprehensively addressed.
Google is preparing for its next health event, where the company’s chief health officer will present new AI health research and partnerships. The company’s credibility in this space will be tested by whether it can demonstrate a more serious approach to the accuracy and safety of its health information tools. The quiet death of “What People Suggest” is a data point that will not be easily forgotten.
Stranger-Sourced Medical AI Tool From Google Has Been Silently Retired
