Google has confirmed the discontinuation of a search feature that used AI to collect and display health advice from anonymous online contributors. “What People Suggest” was designed to add a community voice to health search results but has since been removed from Google’s platform. Three insiders confirmed the removal before Google provided its official statement.
The feature was first revealed at Google’s health event in New York, where then-chief health officer Karen DeSalvo explained how it would help users connect with the experiences of peers managing similar health conditions. The AI organized relevant online discussions into readable themes and provided links to original sources. It was launched to US mobile users as an initial rollout.
In its official response, Google attributed the removal to search simplification rather than any issues with the feature’s safety or content quality. The company’s cited public communication about the change — a blog post by a Google employee in Switzerland — made no mention of “What People Suggest.” This has been widely criticized as an inadequate approach to transparency.
The removal is contextualized by an investigation earlier this year that found Google’s AI Overviews were delivering misleading health information to approximately two billion users monthly. Google’s subsequent removal of some medical AI Overviews was regarded by health experts as a partial and insufficient fix to a systemic issue.
As Google prepares for its next health event, the company continues to face questions about the reliability and safety of its AI health tools. Genuine progress in this space will require both technical improvements and a cultural shift toward greater honesty about what has not worked. The silent retirement of “What People Suggest” falls well short of that standard.
