Google Confirms Removal of AI Tool That Collected Medical Tips From Online Strangers

Google has confirmed the removal of a search feature that gathered and presented health advice from anonymous online users using AI. “What People Suggest” was designed to provide users with community perspectives on health issues, curated by AI from internet forums. Its removal was first revealed by three people familiar with the matter before Google acknowledged it publicly.
The feature debuted at “The Check Up,” a Google health conference in New York, where it was promoted by then-chief health officer Karen DeSalvo as a step forward in personalized, community-driven health search. The tool organized health-themed forum content into themes and provided source links for users wanting to learn more. Its launch was limited to mobile users in the US.
Google attributed the removal to a broader search page simplification effort and denied any connection to safety concerns. When asked to substantiate this with public documentation, the company pointed to a blog post that made no mention of the discontinued feature. The explanation failed to satisfy critics and journalists who had been tracking the issue.
This removal sits alongside a high-profile investigation that found Google’s AI Overviews were circulating false health information to approximately two billion users each month. Google removed AI Overviews from some health searches following that investigation, but health professionals have called for more sweeping changes to how Google handles medical AI content.
At its next health event, Google will present new AI health initiatives. However, the company will need to demonstrate significantly improved transparency and safety standards to make a credible case for expanding its role in health technology. The removal of “What People Suggest” — handled quietly and poorly communicated — offers a blueprint of what not to do.