A search feature from Google that organized and displayed health advice from anonymous internet community members using AI has been confirmed as discontinued. “What People Suggest” curated health content from online discussion forums and presented it to users seeking medical information. The removal was confirmed by three people familiar with the decision and later acknowledged by Google following media inquiries.
The product was introduced at Google’s health conference in New York by then-chief health officer Karen DeSalvo, who described it as a response to users’ genuine desire to find peer health experiences in search. The AI organized community discussion content into thematic summaries, making it easy for users to explore health topics from a community perspective. Initial availability was for mobile users in the United States.
Google attributed the removal to search interface simplification and denied safety implications. However, when pressed for evidence of a public announcement, the company pointed to a blog post that contained no mention of the discontinued feature. Critics have called this a failure of transparency that warrants more honest communication from the company.
The episode overlaps with a broader controversy about Google’s health AI content. An investigation published earlier this year found that AI Overviews in Google Search were providing false health information to approximately two billion users every month. While Google removed some medical AI Overviews following the investigation, health advocates have called the response insufficient.
Google is gearing up for another health event, where AI health research and partnership announcements are expected. But the legacy of “What People Suggest” — launched optimistically, removed silently, and poorly explained — will set the tone for how observers evaluate those announcements. Genuine accountability will be just as important as any new product reveal.