A Google search feature that surfaced health advice from internet strangers organized by AI has been retired, with minimal public acknowledgment from the company. “What People Suggest” was designed to bring community health perspectives into medical search results but was removed after a short operational period. Three insiders confirmed the retirement, and Google acknowledged it after press inquiries.
The feature was introduced by then-chief health officer Karen DeSalvo at Google’s “The Check Up” health event in New York. She described the tool as a way for users to access community health experiences alongside professional medical information, with AI handling the organization and curation. The feature was initially deployed for mobile users in the US.
When Google confirmed the removal, it cited search page simplification and denied safety was a concern. The blog post referenced as public disclosure contained no mention of the discontinued feature, however. The transparency failure has drawn sustained criticism from health and technology journalists.
The removal comes amid wider concerns about Google’s AI health content. An investigation earlier this year documented how AI Overviews were serving false health information to approximately two billion monthly users. While Google removed some medical AI Overviews in response, health experts called the measures insufficient.
At its next health event, Google will present new innovations in AI-powered healthcare. The context set by “What People Suggest” — launched optimistically and retired without adequate public communication — will be part of how observers assess those innovations. Trust in health AI is built over time and lost quickly; Google’s next steps in this space will matter enormously.
