2026-03-17 15:07:07
Google has scrapped a new AI search feature that gave users crowdsourced amateur medical advice.
The tech giant said that the launch of the ‘What People Suggest’ feature, which saw tips provided on medical matters by strangers, demonstrated “the potential of AI to transform health outcomes” but it has now quietly dropped the feature.
A Google spokesperson confirmed that it had been scrapped as part of a “broader simplification” of its search page and the move had nothing to do with the safety or quality of the feature.
It comes as the company faces increasing scrutiny over its use of AI to provide millions of users with information and advice about health.
An investigation by The Guardian newspaper in January found that individuals were being put at risk by misleading information in Google AI Overviews.
Google had announced the ‘What People Suggest’ at an event in New York last year with the firm’s then chief health officer Karen DeSalvo outlining in a blog post why the feature was being launched.
She wrote: “While people come to search to find reliable medical information from experts, they also value hearing from others who have similar experiences.
“That’s why we’re making it even easier to find this type of information on Search with a new feature labelled ‘What People Suggest’.
“Using AI, we’re able to organise different perspectives from online discussions into easy-to-understand themes, helping you quickly grasp what people are saying. For example, a person dealing with arthritis might want to know how others with this condition exercise.
“With this feature, they can quickly uncover real insights from people who also have the condition, with links to click out and learn more.”
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