Google scraps 'revolutionary' AI health feature amid safety scrutiny

Google has officially discontinued a contentious artificial intelligence search feature designed to provide users with crowdsourced medical advice from amateurs worldwide.

A spokesperson for the technology giant confirmed the removal of the "What People Suggest" tool, attributing the decision to a "broader simplification" of its search interface.

This reversal follows significant public concern regarding the reliability of non-expert health guidance delivered via automated systems.

The feature was previously championed by the company as a "revolutionary use of AI to transform health outcomes globally" by connecting users with those who had faced similar medical challenges.

Karen DeSalvo, then Google’s chief health officer, had supported the initiative in a blog post, noting: “While people come to search to find reliable medical information from experts, they also value hearing from others who have similar experiences.”

She added: “That’s why we’re making it even easier to find this type of information on Search with a new feature labelled ‘What People Suggest’”.

Despite the initial enthusiasm, the company has faced mounting scrutiny. Reports recently indicated that Google AI Overviews were responsible for providing misleading information that potentially endangered lives.

While the company maintains that the cancellation "had nothing to do with the quality or safety of the feature," it had already begun restricting AI responses for certain medical queries.

Google insists it will continue to help users find information from various sources, including first-person perspectives on forums, though the removal of this specific AI-driven module marks a notable shift in its health information strategy.