Google has removed a feature from its search engine that gathered and organized health recommendations from internet users using artificial intelligence. The feature, named “What People Suggest,” assembled content from online forums and discussion platforms into organized health themes. Its removal has been confirmed both by Google and by three separate informed sources, though the company’s explanation has drawn scrutiny.
Originally announced at a health-focused Google event in New York, the feature was promoted as a practical innovation for users managing health conditions. Karen DeSalvo, then serving as Google’s chief health officer, said the product empowered users to learn from others with similar health experiences. She described an example of arthritis patients using the feature to learn about exercise strategies from peers.
After the feature was pulled, Google explained the move as part of a standard search page cleanup rather than a safety measure. The company failed, however, to point to any clear public communication about the removal, with the cited blog post not mentioning the feature by name. This contradiction has added to frustration about how Google communicates health product decisions.
This development adds a new chapter to Google’s ongoing struggles with health information accuracy in its AI-powered tools. An investigation this year found that Google’s AI Overviews regularly presented false health information to two billion users monthly. In response to the outcry that followed, Google removed AI Overviews from certain health searches, but the overall system has not been redesigned to prevent similar problems.
Google is preparing to host another edition of its “The Check Up” event, where health AI progress is expected to be front and center. With growing pressure from regulators, health professionals, and users, the company may find that substantive transparency — not just promotional events — is what’s needed to demonstrate a serious commitment to safe and accurate health information. The removal of “What People Suggest” highlights the distance still to be traveled.