Google Removes AI Health Advice Feature
Google has discreetly discontinued its AI-driven search feature called “What People Suggest,” which provided users with crowdsourced health advice from non-professionals worldwide. This decision arrives as the tech giant faces increased scrutiny over its AI applications in health information dissemination.
According to three sources familiar with the matter, Google has officially retired the feature. A spokesperson clarified that the removal was part of a broader effort to simplify the search results page and wasn’t related to concerns about the feature’s quality or safety.
This feature was launched last March during an event named The Check Up in New York, where Google showcased its ambition to improve medical AI capabilities in search. It was originally promoted as a way for users to access varied health insights from individuals with similar medical backgrounds.
At the time, Karen DeSalvo, the then chief health officer of Google, explained in a blog post that users often seek trusted medical information, but they also appreciate hearing from others who have been through similar experiences. The feature aimed to organize online discussions into themes, helping users navigate information regarding specific health issues.
DeSalvo illustrated the functionality of the feature, mentioning that someone with arthritis searching for exercise tips could find relevant insights from others with the same condition, enhancing the quest for valuable information. Initially available only on mobile devices in the United States, the feature has since been phased out.
The elimination of this option follows a January study revealing that users were sometimes exposed to misleading health information through Google’s AI-generated summaries. These summaries appear before standard search results and reach an estimated 2 billion users each month.
Google initially downplayed concerns from the study, asserting that the AI summaries linked to trustworthy sources and encouraged users to seek expert advice. However, shortly after the study was published, the company removed the AI summary for certain medical queries.
A spokesperson emphasized that safety was not a factor in the scrapping of “What People Suggest,” stating, “This had nothing to do with feature quality or safety. We continue to assist individuals in finding reliable health information from various sources, including our first-person forums, which are quite helpful.”
Even though this particular feature has been removed, Google is still incorporating AI into its health-related search functionalities. The company is set to hold another “The Check Up” event, where chief health officer Michael Howell and other team members will discuss how Google is integrating AI research, innovation, and partnerships to tackle global health challenges.
