In the span of a few months, Google introduced and then silently discontinued a search feature that used AI to present health advice from online strangers. The product, “What People Suggest,” appeared briefly on mobile search results for health queries before being removed without a clear public statement. Its exit was confirmed by three insiders and then by a Google spokesperson.
The feature made its debut at Google’s annual health conference in New York last spring, where then-chief health officer Karen DeSalvo wrote enthusiastically about its value for health seekers. She said the feature tapped into users’ genuine desire to hear from people who had dealt with the same health conditions. The AI-organized community content was linked to original sources for users to explore further.
In explaining the removal, Google cited routine search interface simplification and explicitly denied that safety was a consideration. But the company’s own evidence of a public announcement — a blog post by a Google Switzerland-based employee — made no reference to the feature’s discontinuation. The inconsistency has drawn sharp attention.
The removal sits within a broader controversy about AI health content on Google’s platform. An investigation earlier this year found that Google’s AI Overviews were spreading medically inaccurate information to roughly two billion users monthly. In response, Google removed AI Overviews for some health searches, though the changes were seen as partial and reactive.
With a new health event on the horizon and a new chief health officer at the helm, Google will again try to present a positive story about AI in healthcare. The memory of “What People Suggest” — launched loudly and retired silently — will add pressure to ensure that future health AI tools are deployed and managed with more honesty and care.
