Google has officially confirmed the removal of an AI-powered search feature that gathered and organized health advice from ordinary internet users. The feature, known as “What People Suggest,” presented community perspectives on health topics by using AI to curate relevant content from online discussions. Three sources with inside knowledge confirmed its removal, and Google subsequently acknowledged it.
The product was launched at Google’s New York health conference by then-chief health officer Karen DeSalvo, who described it as a tool that acknowledged the human side of health search. She wrote that users want to hear from people who have shared their experiences, not just from medical professionals, and that the feature delivered exactly that. Initial availability was limited to mobile users in the United States.
Google’s spokesperson denied that safety played a role in the removal, describing it as part of a search page simplification effort. However, the blog post cited as evidence of a public announcement contained no mention of the feature being discontinued. The discrepancy drew criticism from those monitoring Google’s AI health activities.
The removal occurs amid sustained scrutiny of Google’s health AI ecosystem. An investigation revealed that AI Overviews — shown to approximately two billion users monthly — had been providing false medical information. Though Google removed some medical AI Overviews following the investigation, the deeper problems of AI health accuracy on the platform remain a concern.
Google is expected to make new health AI announcements at an upcoming event, once again framing AI as a positive force in global health. But the way “What People Suggest” was handled — launched with optimism, pulled without public notice — will shadow that conversation. The company will need to demonstrate genuine transparency and responsibility to move the conversation forward.
